Rainy day mental exercise...

Calculate the mass of a thermal.

Calculate the heat capacity of a thermal.

Calculate the energy input required to heat the thermal some small amount for buoyancy, say 2 deg C.

Compare to the heat output of terrestrial sources. A Nuc powerplant is typically a few GW (thermal). Most other anthropogenic sources are smaller.

Sit back in awe and ponder the wonders of nature.

I'm a big fan of gravitationally confined fusion power.

-Evan Ludeman / T8