How Does the Temperature Change With Depth Into the Earth?
As the depth into the Earth increases, the temperature increases as well. The Earth’s inner core is the hottest part of the Earth, with temperatures close to 10,800 degrees Fahrenheit, according to LiveScience. The layers surrounding the Earth’s core significantly increase in temperature as they move closer to the core. In other words, the less distance between the inner core and the Earth’s crust, the hotter the temperature.
According to National Geographic, the Earth is divided in three main layers: the crust, mantle and core. The crust is the outer section of Earth and has a solid outer layer with a depth of approximately 31 miles. Since it is the section furthest away from the inner core, it is also the coolest.
Beneath the Earth’s crust is the mantle, which is made up of a layer of gooey hot magma, semi-solid rocks and minerals. The mantle has a depth of about 1806 miles from the crust and reaches temperatures close to 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit.
The core, the inner layer of the Earth, has the hottest temperature. It is divided into two sections: the outer core and the inner core. The outer core, the region surrounding the inner core, has a depth of 3,981 miles from the Earth’s crust and is slightly cooler than the inner core, with temperatures close to 6,692 degrees Fahrenheit. The inner core, however, is the hottest. Scientists are unsure of its exact temperature, but research shows that both the outer and inner core are about 10,800 degrees Fahrenheit. This is approximately as hot as the sun’s surface, according to LiveScience.
