geo-, ge- +

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: Geothermal drilling entails boring a hole deep into the ground and pumping water back up. The method of geothermal drilling is a fantastic way of heating one's home.

You may see more information about geothermal drilling here.

1. Energy in the form of natural heat flowing outward from within the plant Earth and contained in rocks, water, brines, or steam: Geothermal heat is produced mainly by the decay of naturally occurring radioactive isotopes of thorium, potassium, and uranium in the Earth's core.

Geothermal energy is 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: The geothermal gradient on the average is estimated to be an increase of about +10°C per kilometer.

Heat pumps which consist of underground coils that transfer heat from the ground to the inside of a building: The large company had a ground source heat pump to heat and to cool their many buildings.

1. The extraction of valuable minerals from geothermal fluids: By the way of geothermal mining solid homogeneous inorganic matter, like market-grade silica, can be obtained from a geothermal brine.
2. The process of purposely transporting geothermal energy from beneath the Earth's surface: Geothermal mining can be useful for human utilization, for example for the building of a well and pipeline system to bring heated water to a power plant.

An industrial heat-producing manufacturer in which the prime mover is a steam turbine: Geothermal plants are driven either by vapor produced from hot water or by natural condensation that derives its energy from the hotness found in rock formations of the planet.

Like other related "plant" references, this entry is apparently linked to the action of pressing on a shovel, or some other apparatus, with the "sole of the foot" in order to work the soil for the development of plants.

A subsurface system consisting of a large volume of hot water and steam trapped in a porous and fractured hot rock underneath a layer of impermeable rock: Some geothermal reservoirs can be commercially developed as an energy source.

A localized geological environment in which circulating steam, or hot water, carries some of the Earth's natural internal heat flow close enough to the surface to be utilized for productive human use: A geothermal system is one kind of technological system that makes use of this heat as an energy source, such as to power an electrical power plant, or to heat or to cool a building.

Pertaining to the internal heat of the earth: In the article, Jim read bout geothermic hotness that originated from inside the planet Earth, or heat generated in the interior of the Earth.

The science or study of the heat produced inside the Earth: James was interested in the generation of heat produced within the planet, and so he decided to learn more in the field of geothermics.

An instrument for measuring subterranean temperatures: Jack's professor in geology showed the students a photo of a geothermometer used to find out the temperature of geological substances from long ago, or those that were at a considerable depth in the Earth.

The study or science of the measurements of formerr temperature of rock history: Geothermometry includes the direct or indirect measurement or approximation of the temperatures at which geologic processes take place or have taken place.

Geothermometry is the science of the Earth's heat and temperatures, and their effects on geologic processes.

Geothermometry pertains to the investigation of the Earth's heat and subsurface temperatures.

In geology class, Mary learned that geothermometry was important for determining a mineral or aggregate of minerals whose presence defined the temperature range of limits within which the minerals were formed, also known as a geologic thermometer.

The practice of eating earth materials: The plight of geotragia is especially seen in famine-stricken areas where the people eat clay or chalk.

1. An infection of the lungs or of the mouth and intestines caused by the fungus Geotrichum candidum: Geotrichosis is a rare fungal infection of the mouth, respiratory tract, and digestive tract which can cause skin, bronchial, mouth, lung, and/or intestinal lesions.

Geotrichosis is caused by fungi in the genus Geotrichum.

Geotrichosis is an infection by Geotrichum candidum, which may attack the bronchi, lungs, mouth, or intestinal tract. Its manifestations resemble those of candidiasis (yeast infection). The "yeast" is normally present on the skin, in the intestinal tract, and with women in the genital region.

A description of the response of plants toward the pull of gravity: Plant roots are geotropic because they react to the force of gravity with a downward movement towards the center of the Earth.