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Science 18 January 1980:
Vol. 207. no. 4428, pp. 265 - 273
DOI: 10.1126/science.207.4428.265
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Articles

Ocean Energy: Forms and Prospects

John D. Isaacs 1 and Walter R. Schmitt 2

1 Professor of oceanography and director of the University of California's statewide Institute of Marine Resources, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093
2 Specialist in oceanography, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093

The nature and distribution of power sources of the sea other than petroleum are discussed, along with possible entrées for their use. Waves, tides, currents, and salinity and temperature gradients all have the potential to contribute useful power. Submarine geothermal sources, salt domes, ice, and other marine-associated concentrations may be more important. There are opportunities to employ these marine power resources directly rather than for contributions to power grids or power-intensive products. Ancillary employment of the seawater as a coolant and of the sediments below the seabed for the disposal of nuclear wastes may be even more important uses than employment of the power that the sea contains.


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Subseabed Disposal of Nuclear Wastes.
C. D. Hollister, C. D. Hollister, D. R. Anderson, and G. R. Health (1981)
Science 213, 1321-1326
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