Systems at the surface of the Earth are continually responding to energy inputs - rived ultimately from radiation from the Sun or from the radiogenic heat in the - terior. These energy inputs drive plate movements and erosion, exposing metastable mineral phases at the Earth's surface. In addition, these energy ?uxes are harvested and transformed by living organisms. As long as these processes persist, chemical disequilibrium at the Earth's surface will be perpetuated. In addition, as human populations grow, the need to produce food, extract - ter, and extract energy resources increases. These...
Systems at the surface of the Earth are continually responding to energy inputs - rived ultimately from radiation from the Sun or from the radiogenic ...