ABSTRACT
Earth receives energy externally from solar insolation and internally from the radioactive processes in its core. Being a dynamic system, the various subsystems of Earth interactively exchange matter and energy. The energy and material exchanges are in balance which keeps our planet within the temperature ranges that support life forms. It is therefore essential to understand the various components of the Earth system and the interactive processes which are responsible to maintain Earth’s energy balance. In this chapter, we shall learn about various forms of energy, their sources, the exchange process between the various Earth subsystems, and the potential risks to Earth’s energy balance.
