Geofuels: Energy and the Earth

Our energy use and its consequences (including climate change) motivate some of the most contentious and complex public debates of our time. Although these issues are often cast in terms of renewable versus non-renewable energy, in reality both depend on finite Earth resources. The evolution of the Earth itself therefore offers a uniquely illuminating perspective from which to evaluate alternative pathways toward energy and environmental sustainability. Geofuels: Energy and the Earth systematically develops this perspective using informal, nontechnical language laced with humor. It is well suited to a broad readership, ranging from beginning university students to lifelong learners who are interested in how the Earth's past will influence their own future. It also provides simplified explanations of controversial topics, such as energy return on energy investment, peak oil, and fracking. The focus throughout is on building a sound physical understanding of how natural resources constrain our use of energy.

Table of Contents:
1. Introduction; 2. The living Earth; 3. Warmed from above: solar energy; 4. Wind, water, and waves: energy from the fluid Earth; 5. Covered with green: biofuels basics; 6. Fossil farming: the geologic underpinnings of biofuels; 7. The light of an ancient sun: fossil fuel origins; 8. Digging for daylight: coal and oil shale; 9. Skimming the cream: conventional oil and gas; 10. Stuck in the mud: fossil fuels that fail to flow; 11. Petrified petroleum: oil sand and gas hydrate; 12. Water, water, everywhere; 13. Primordial power: geothermal and nuclear; 14. Out of sight, out of mind: geologic waste disposal; 15. How long is forever?: energy and time; 16. Conclusions.

About the Author :
Alan R. Carroll is a geologist with more than 30 years of experience in academic research and the energy industry. He is currently a professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where he conducts research on sedimentary basins, and he is internationally known for his contributions to the geology of ancient lakes and the tectonic evolution of western China. He also teaches a popular energy resources course. He is a founding member of the Wisconsin Energy Institute and a member of the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, where he is a part of the Energy Analysis and Policy faculty. Carroll has worked as an exploration geologist for Sohio Petroleum and as a petroleum geochemist for the Exxon Production Research Company, and he continues to maintain active contact with the petroleum industry through his consulting company, Geofuels LLC. He is a Fellow of the Geological Society of America, a past associate editor of the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, and a member of the American Geophysical Union and Internal Association for Limnogeology.

Review :
'Dr Carroll has written a practical, objective, informed and entertaining book that does a refreshing job of looking at energy from multiple angles. Students and activists alike would benefit from considering what Alan has to say.' Scott W. Tinker, State Geologist of Texas and producer of the global energy documentary, Switch 'Geofuels is an adventure into Earth's energy resources and the environment. It is hard to imagine a more interesting and readable book. Professor Carroll demonstrates his talent as a gifted teacher, using analogies, story-telling, and both historical and modern examples to make natural processes and facts intuitive and relevant. Anyone who reads this book, whether new to Earth science or not, is going to learn a lot about Earth systems, the nature and benefits of different energy sources, technology, environmental impacts, weather, oceans, soils, water resources and geology.' Steven Gorelick, Stanford University, California 'This is an excellent book, lively written, and full of insights. Dr Carroll's thorough knowledge of geology shines throughout the text, and makes this book interesting not only to a wide audience, but also to the scientists, who worked in some or most of the aspects of global energy supply. I happen to have worked and published in most of these aspects, and not only greatly enjoyed the book, but also learned several new things. Dr Carroll has set a very difficult goal for his book: to be easily readable by a broad lay audience, yet maintain the level of rigor that makes it also attractive to scientists and engineers. I congratulate him on achieving this goal admirably. I will strongly recommend this book to my family and friends.' Tadeusz Patzek, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia