rmrin@inuxa.UUCP (D Rickert) (04/04/84)
While I don't have the numbers handy, I think the computation has been run many times to show that the Earth's core is not hot because of heat trapped at the time of this planet's formation. In fact, some theories state the matter for the Earth's formation was quite cool. Ongoing decay of trapped radioactive matter is responsible for most of the heat which shows up in places like Yellowstone and Hawaii. Of course, the incoming solar energy is the main determinant of surface temperatures and has a slight effect on core temperature by influencing the heat leakage rate.
agk@ihuxq.UUCP (Andy Kegel) (04/05/84)
rmrin@inuxa.UUCP (D Rickert) states: > Ongoing decay of trapped radioactive matter is responsible for most > of the heat which shows up in places like Yellowstone and Hawaii. Nonsense. NPR's Morning Edition (dated 4/4) had a sequence about the recent volcanic activity in Hawaii. A geologist they interviewed clearly stated that both the Hawaiian Island chain and Yellowstone were good examples of mid-tectonic-plate upwellings of magma. NO radioactive matter of any sort was involved. -andy kegel
mcewan@uiucdcs.UUCP (04/10/84)
#R:inuxa:-27400:uiucdcs:10600156:000:853 uiucdcs!mcewan Apr 10 15:56:00 1984 >rmrin@inuxa.UUCP (D Rickert) states: >> Ongoing decay of trapped radioactive matter is responsible for most >> of the heat which shows up in places like Yellowstone and Hawaii. > >Nonsense. NPR's Morning Edition (dated 4/4) had a sequence about the >recent volcanic activity in Hawaii. A geologist they interviewed clearly >stated that both the Hawaiian Island chain and Yellowstone were good >examples of mid-tectonic-plate upwellings of magma. NO radioactive matter >of any sort was involved. > > -andy kegel You misunderstood Rickert's note. He said that radioactive decay creates the heat that keeps magma molten. The mid-tectonic-plate upwelling discribes how the magma got to Hawaii. The opinions expressed are my own and not necessarily those of any sane person. Scott McEwan pur-ee!uiucdcs!mcewan "Hitler was an idealist.""