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When
the planet was first formed, it was a fiery ball of liquid and
gas. As it cooled, an outer crust formed over the hot mass. This
crust is the surface of the earth where man dwells. Geothermal
energy is nearly as old as the Earth itself. It comes from heat
being trapped in hot melted rock, called magma or lava, below the
Earth's surface. When this heat energy is tapped, it is a
tremendous source of power.
Geothermal energy is a
renewable resource; about 95 percent of the hot water in
geothermal reservoirs began as cool rainwater. When rainwater
seeps through cracks in the Earth's crust, it is heated by magma
and turns to steam. The steam rises to the atmosphere, cools,
turns back to liquid, falls back to earth as rain and eventually
seeps back through cracks to be turned back into steam.
Arizona has an abundance of
low-temperature geothermal areas, or hot springs, in the
southeastern part of the state. Although the majority of these
areas are not suitable for generating electricity, they do have
potential for heating and cooling greenhouses, nurseries and fish
farms.
The two highest temperature
springs in the state are Clifton and Gillard, both in the
Clifton-Morenci area of southeastern Arizona. The water
temperature at these springs ranges from 158-180 degrees
Fahrenheit. Even though temperatures may exceed 284 degrees
Fahrenheit at depth, these two sites are only suitable for low
grad steam. Neither of these areas has been developed.
More
on geothermal energy here. |
