5 ms·
The energy is input by the sun which turns sea water (at sea level) into water vapor, which then moves to higher elevation due to weather patterns (also caused
by csense 11y ago
The energy is input by the sun which turns sea water (at sea level) into water vapor, which then moves to higher elevation due to weather patterns (also caused by sun's energy input) and falls as rain into a reservoir at higher elevation than the locations it serves.
- jamesrom 11y agoAll energy on earth is solar energy.
- onion2k 11y agoApart from nuclear power. Even that is technically 'solar' in the sense that the elements necessary were made in a star, but not our sun.
- jholman 11y agoYou're right about nuclear (though, if we can get hydrogen fusion to be profitable, that won't even be stellar in the way that fission is). Tidal energy isn't solar in any sense. It's harvesting momentum which in turn is generated by some combination of gravity and the Big Bang. Geothermal energy isn't solar. It's harvesting heat, which apparently comes from three sources: heat from the planet's formation, caused by gravity, heat from friction from deep-interior motion, and heat from radioactive decay. Only the last of these is even stellar, and none are solar.
- jamesrom 11y agoMoon (and Earth) were given their momentum during the formation of the solar system. I'd say that's solar. And if you want to make a distinction about which star forged the heavy elements required for radioactive decay, then I'll agree it's 'stellar' energy not so much 'solar'.