Earth's Core Cooling?

Question

It is easy to see that earthquakes have become more and more frequent and strong. This made me think; what if it is because the Earth's core is cooling, causing the plates to collide together because the Earth would also be shrinking (minutely, but over huge distances) as the core cools. We all know that planetary cores eventually cool. If Earth's core is indeed cooling and eventually solidifies, what effect will this have on the human race and our planet?

Answer 1

Actually the earth's core is cooling and it has been for 4 billion years. I suspect we have a few billion more years to wait. The earth's liquid outer core cooling and solidifying on the inner core results in convection currents that result in the earth's magnetic field. Without the magnetic field will be pelted with cosmic rays. The plates are the result of temperature and pressures relatively near the surface at approximately 100 miles down in the asthenosphere that is extremely plastic. The rigid plates above float on top of this layer and therefore and really related to the inner core cooling.

Answer 2

Earth Core Cooling

Answer 3

Only 30% of the heat that is lost by the core ahs been in there since its formation (the remaining 70% comes from radioactive decay) thus the earths tempurature is fairly stable; it is the convection currents carrying he heat from inside the core throught the mantel tot he crust that cause tectnoic movement, not the paltes grinding together as the earths shrinks;

The core itself is solid (due to the huge amount of wieght above it) so as it cools down there it will become liquid and not compress a great deal

hope this helps

Answer 4

As there is a lot of radioactive decay going on I don't think that cooling is in the near future (1 Billion years) of this planet.

Answer 5

I believe that you are correct, but you will be long gone by the time it becomes a real problem.

By the time this is an issue, space travel will be well established.
Or, as my belief kicks in, not asking others to believe what I believe, God has it all under control.

Answer 6

Dead planet.