Cape Station, future home of an enhanced geothermal power plant, in Utah

Today I discovered that geothermal energy is a thing, cool! An immediate question that comes to mind is how much "energy potential" does the earth store and "how is it generated"? I'd imagine something about gravity or magnetic waves that move the iron* core and stuff. Anyone know some resources I can read more about this?

Assuming we can drill deep enough and harness it, the thermal energy in the earth's crust is essentially infinite.

People said "the Earth is too big, human activity can't change the climate". Now look at where we are.

I wonder, if we draw enough heat out... would the core cool enough to shrink? And if so, would the crust collapse to the new size?

Pure speculation of course, but did the first guy burning coal know the outcome?

Anyhow, I love geothermal, think you're right, but just got tweaked on the word "infinite".

Just some rough physics..

Q = m c ΔT

m = mass of the crust (roughly 10^22 kg)

C = specific heat of crust (roughly 1000 J/kg·K)

ΔT = 1 K

Q = 10^25 joules would be needed to lower the earths crust by 1 degree K

About 10,000 years worth of today’s human energy consumption

I wonder how much ΔT you need at the crust to meaningfully change Earth's magnetic field by altering convection patterns in the outer core. I don't know enough physics to attempt an answer.

Calculating or simulating how earths magnetic field behaves or is generated is quite a complex task. So im doubtful we can usefully estimate it to such precision. It would be interesting though.

We know that if the convection in the outer core stops, the Earth's magnetic field stops, and removing enough heat from the core will stop the convection.

Yes but calculating the energy draw required for any measurable change in this effect is very different from knowing the rough process it operates on.

We know how weather works quite well, but knowing if it will rain in a week is an entirely different beast.