Can Thermal Energy in the atmosphere be harvested to generate power and counteract global warming at once?

Answer 1

My answer is: No, and no.

Thermal energy is the lowest form of energy, in that it is the least useful and the primary product of friction. In order to gain useful power out of it, there must exist a very large temperature gradient, somewhere on the order of hundreds of degrees Kelvin and larger, which is not to be found in the atmosphere.

If any energy were to be harvested from the atmosphere, more heat would be created, thus counteracting the desire to cool the earth. Using the harvested energy would reduce it back to thermal energy eventually, and the heat remains on earth. The harvested energy would have to be ejected from earth as highly energetic particles, but that would decrease the mass of the earth over time, and generate a great amount of wasted resources, and energy.

The issue with global warming (and I am inclined to put nature as the cause, not man) is not really the temperature (effect), but the heat transfer mechanisms (cause) because if the sun were to go out the earth would freeze in minutes. People are worried about the processes which slow the earth's cooling by radiation into space, mainly CO2, H2O (too many clouds at once), etc. The key is to increase the earth's radiation into space, if one really believes that the earth is falling out of balance for life as we know it, mainly our own lives. Frankly, I've come to accept that we really aren't that important or powerful when it comes to terraforming or other important global acts of God (at this time); except with our nuclear program, of course.

Answer 2

Absolutely, install an insulated duct system from the equator to one of the poles. The last few miles of duct on each end would be un-insulated. On the cold end the duct would be turned down to let the cooled air sink out of the duct. The cooling air would become more dense drawing in more warm air from the other end.

Once the flow was established turbines in the duct would convert the moving air into electrical power.

The real problem will be if you cool off the earth too much and cause a terminal ice age where so much of the earth is frozen that it reflects heat back into space and becomes a ball of ice.

Answer 3

No it can not, as this would violate the second law of thermodynamics.