Energy Resources Explained — Oil, Gas, Coal, Nuclear, and Renewables in Earth Science | Chapter 14 from Earth: Portrait of a Planet
Energy Resources Explained — Oil, Gas, Coal, Nuclear, and Renewables in Earth Science | Chapter 14 from Earth: Portrait of a Planet How does the Earth power our modern world, and what choices will shape our energy future? Chapter 14 of Earth: Portrait of a Planet by Stephen Marshak reveals the geologic origins and environmental implications of the energy resources we rely on—from fossil fuels to renewables. For a complete podcast summary, watch the chapter video on YouTube , or read below for a comprehensive breakdown. The Earth’s Energy Sources: Where Power Begins Earth’s energy resources come from natural processes—solar radiation, gravity, Earth’s internal heat, and radioactive decay. Most of our civilization’s energy comes from fossil fuels formed over millions of years by geologic processes. Oil and Gas: How Hydrocarbons Form and Accumulate Oil and natural gas originate from the buried remains of plankton and plants, transformed into hydrocarbons in source rocks und...