Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 1.10 Energy
consumption of fossil
fuels from 1700 until
2000 and estimate of the
still existing commercial
energy (millions Toe)
Toe (millions)
(%)
Consumption 1700
2000
-
350,000
32
Estimated reserves in 2000
750,000
68
Total
1,100,000
100
Source see text
and described an exponential curve in the following two. According to recent
estimates on the future availability of fossil fuels, around the year 2000 about 70 %
was remaining (although these estimates are ordinarily speculative) (Table
1.10
). In
any case, this considerable wealth will not last long time (100
200 years according
to different estimates), seen the high and rising levels of fuel consumption.
In an important article published in 1922, Alfred Lotka established a correlation
between natural selection and energy consumption.
-
“
”
In the struggle for existence
,
he stated
the advantage must go to those organism whose energy-capturing devices
are most ef
“
cient in directing available energy into channels favourable to the
preservation of the species
”
.
23
Since the organisms and species with superior
capacity to capture energy will increase, the energy crossing the biological system
will also tend to increase. There is a tendency, in natural history, towards a
ow of
more and more energy through the biological sphere. In trying to survive and enjoy
better living standards any living being contributes, at the same time, to the rise in
the
ow of energy which crosses the biological system. The human beings alive at
the start of the 21st century, and still increasing, will contribute, day by day, to
intensify this passage of energy through the thin biological envelope of the Earth.
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23
Lotka (
1922
).
