tiberio@seismo.UUCP (Mike Tiberio) (04/04/84)
The temperature gradient near the earths surface is about .03 degrees celsius per meter. Most values lie in the range 0 to .04, although values much higher have been observed.* Besides residual heat from the formation of the planet and radioactive decay, I believe one other source is responsible for heating the core of the earth. Since the earth gains many tons in mass per day (the figure escapes me now), compression of the core takes place. Thermodynamics says when you compress something, it heats up. from your happy hacking earth scientist...ty * taken from Peter J. Smiths "Topics in Geophysics"
slag@charm.UUCP (Peter Rosenthal) (04/05/84)
bite bytes o bug. How does the earth gain tons every day? From meteors and space dust?