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Global Anthropogenic Heat as Source of Ices Disappearance; Consequences for the Future of Earth and Humanity
  • Michel Vert
Michel Vert
University of Montpellier, University of Montpellier, University of Montpellier

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Abstract

The heat energy necessary to melt the recently reported 28 trillions tonnes of ices disappeared between 1994 and 2017 was estimated. This heat energy was compared to an estimate of anthropogenic heat energy released in the world during the same period. Both heat energies being of the same order of magnitude, it was concluded that anthropogenic heat energy was sufficient to have caused the melting of a large part of the disappeared ices. Ice melting was not the only source of anthropogenic heat absorption. It is shown that interphase equilibria between ice-liquid-vapour physical forms of water acted as thermal buffers. If more and more anthropogenic heat has to be absorbed in the future, interphase equilibria will move water from ices and liquid to vapour and clouds. In parallel, atmosphere and ocean turbulences that contribute in dispatching solar heat over the world should be enhanced because of the extra heat to manage. The role assigned to anthropogenic heat and water interphase equilibria will be confirmed if ices continue to disappear increasingly while global CO2 production decreases as expected in the future.