The general evolution of energy–matter interactions on earth: From a gas whirlwind to a technogenic civilization

Abstract

An idea of the general evolution through the long-term response of the Earth to the external flow of radiant energy from the Sun is proposed. Due to the finiteness of matter on Earth, as well as on any other planet, the continuous pumping flow of radiant energy has been shown to lead to cyclization of transformations and mass transfer along the emerging gradients. The evolution of the energy–matter interaction follows the pathway of capturing and transferring more energy by a smaller quantity of matter, i.e., the pathway of the increase in the amount of energy used by each unit mass. According to this parameter, the least effective mass transfer is a simple transfer as vortices of gases along the gradients of temperature and pressure, which took place on the primary surface of the planet. Long-term natural selection towards water accumulation on the planet has played a special role in the development of the interaction between energy and matter. Phase transitions (ice, water, and vapor) and mechanical transfers are the most common energy–matter processes. Chemical transformation of substances became possible based on water cycles, cyclic transfers, and transformations and developed with time into biological transformation. This type of energy–matter interaction is the most efficient. In particular, the energy of our star is captured during photosynthesis and utilized in the most active region of its radiation spectrum. During the biological evolution of heterotrophs, a increase in the coefficient that characterizes the energy exchange intensity from protozoa to mammals by several hundred times is most illustrative. The development and current dominance of humans as the species that is most active in the capturing of energy and meaningful organization of its new flows, in particular, based on the organic debris of former biospheres, is amazing but quite natural from the energy standpoint. During the technological evolution of humankind, the energy-exchange intensity for homoiotherms (warm-blooded animals) has increased by 20 times if it is recalculated for the technological energy that is used by the average inhabitant of the Earth. Thus, the victory of our species in planetary evolution fits well into the mainstream of the general evolution through energy–matter interactions: a multiple increase in star energy has been used to transform the matter on the surface of the irradiated planet.