The First law of Thermodynamics and trees
I had to look this one up to be certain I had it right:
First law of thermodynamics (conservation) Energy is neither created nor destroyed, it changes from one form to another.
I have heard this time and time again but recently it stuck home when I was reading a book about Wood Heat. In the book, the author stated that a block of wood (read, tree) will give off a certain amount of heat - be it from burning (in a fire place or elsewhere), or rotting (over the years). Either way - the energy the tree collected from the sun will be released.
Three years ago I had the privilege of traveling to Spokane, WA. One night the group of Instructional Designers decided to go to Idaho to have dinner steak dinner and potatoes (Idaho - pototoes...). My leader, having already taken us up to Canada for dinner one night, wanted to travel over to Montana to have a cup of coffee. Seems just crossing the border wasn't good enough - needed to do something to say "I’ve been to ___________." Thus off we went, after that very filling dinner.
We stopped at a local shop that served coffee and such and we ended up talking with the County Commissioner. He asked us about our ride and what all we had seen. One of the things we had seen was the national forest - and in it were dozens of trees that had fallen, now rotting. He said that before, loggers would come in and clear out the trees, that was before people coming from California came up there. They bugged the someone and now there is no logging in that forest. He spoke about how the logs, as they rot, become warm and very easy to light. He wasn't happy about the situation. Enen though we had talked about this in the car, it became even clearer - this is one way forest fires get going in a hurry.
So, remember, Energy is neither created nor destroyed, it changes from one form to another. Them trees are going to release all that heat one way or another. The question is, are we going to control it and use it for good or let happen in a destructive and wasteful manner?
Mike
First law of thermodynamics (conservation) Energy is neither created nor destroyed, it changes from one form to another.
I have heard this time and time again but recently it stuck home when I was reading a book about Wood Heat. In the book, the author stated that a block of wood (read, tree) will give off a certain amount of heat - be it from burning (in a fire place or elsewhere), or rotting (over the years). Either way - the energy the tree collected from the sun will be released.
Three years ago I had the privilege of traveling to Spokane, WA. One night the group of Instructional Designers decided to go to Idaho to have dinner steak dinner and potatoes (Idaho - pototoes...). My leader, having already taken us up to Canada for dinner one night, wanted to travel over to Montana to have a cup of coffee. Seems just crossing the border wasn't good enough - needed to do something to say "I’ve been to ___________." Thus off we went, after that very filling dinner.
We stopped at a local shop that served coffee and such and we ended up talking with the County Commissioner. He asked us about our ride and what all we had seen. One of the things we had seen was the national forest - and in it were dozens of trees that had fallen, now rotting. He said that before, loggers would come in and clear out the trees, that was before people coming from California came up there. They bugged the someone and now there is no logging in that forest. He spoke about how the logs, as they rot, become warm and very easy to light. He wasn't happy about the situation. Enen though we had talked about this in the car, it became even clearer - this is one way forest fires get going in a hurry.
So, remember, Energy is neither created nor destroyed, it changes from one form to another. Them trees are going to release all that heat one way or another. The question is, are we going to control it and use it for good or let happen in a destructive and wasteful manner?
Mike
