thermo-, therm-, thermi-, -thermia, -therm, -thermal, -thermic, -thermias, -thermies, -thermous, -thermy

A temperature-time curve of the amount of heat produced in a chemical reaction.

1. Denoting a chemical reaction during which heat is emitted.
2. Relating to the external warmth of the body.
3. A compound that liberates heat during its formation and which absorbs heat or energy during its decomposition.
4. Characterized by, or attended by, the development of heat; such as, combustion.

Relating to or describing any process in which a system releases heat to its surrounding environment.

1. An underground isotherm, or a line drawn on a weather map that connects places with the same temperature.
2. A line connecting points of equal or constant temperatures on the surface of the earth.

1. A mineral or aggregate of minerals the presence of which defines the temperature ranges or limits within which the minerals were formed.
2. A thermometer constructed to measure temperatures in boreholes to provide information about the temperature range within which minerals were developed.

1. Relating to, or caused by, the internal heat of the earth.
2. Describing an energy system that makes use of the internal heat produced by the earth.

The use of geothermic heat in agriculture: Geothermal agriculture is the use of low-temperature geothermal water to warm irrigation water or to sterilize soil.

The use of geothermal heat in fish farming; such as, the use of geothermally heated water to provide a controlled environment for the husbandry of marine organisms.

The use of naturally cooler water, or air, to lower the temperature of a building, as opposed to air or water that is artificially cooled.

The process of drilling a well to explore for or to extract geothermal energy, or to re-inject thermal waste water in the ground after power generation.

You may see more information about geothermal drilling here.

1. Energy in the form of natural heat flowing outward from within the earth and contained in rocks, water, brines, or steam.
2. Heat which is produced mainly by the decay of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes of thorium, potassium, and uranium in the earth's core.
3. An energy produced by tapping the earth's internal heat. At present, the only available technologies to do this are those that extract heat from hydrothermal convection systems, where water or steam transfer the heat from the deeper part of the earth to the areas where the energy can be tapped.

The amount of pollutants found in geothermal vary from area to area but may contain arsenic, boron, selenium, lead, cadmium, and fluorides. They also may contain hydrogen sulphide, mercury, ammonia, radon, carbon dioxide, and methane.

Getting the Earth's Heat

Geothermal power plants, which tap hot subterranean water or steam, are high on the lists of at least thirty states in the U.S. which are requiring utility companies to generate some portion of their electricity from such renewable sources.

Most utilities have not pursued geothermal energy primarily because up-front costs, including exploratory drilling, can be expensive since geothermal taps deep reservoirs, not groundwater, which collects much closer to the surface.

An extensive study recently released by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has shown that the heat available under ground is surprisingly plentiful nationwide.

More information about special Geothermal Energy sources.

The rate of temperature change in soil and rock from the surface to the interior of the earth; on the average, estimated to be an increase of about +10°C per kilometer.