Seeing how the core of the Earth is approx. 9032F-10832F/5000C-6000C, wouldn't one think the water would actually get warmer the deeper you went in the water instead of colder. After all you tech. would be getting closer to the Earths core and heat does rise, right?
2007-02-06 04:18:03 · 8 answers · asked by ? 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Good question...
The reason the deep ocean is generally colder than the surface of the ocean is simply because the ocean is not very deep compared to the earth as a whole. A good comparision would be the skin of an apple - that's about how deep into the earth the ocean reaches... So while the core of the earth is between 5000-6000 degrees celcius, the deep ocean water is thousands of miles away from there. It is on top of oceanic lithosphere which is solid rock - and this rock insulates the ocean from any of the heat that would be coming from the inner earth (the asthenosphere, the closest dynamic zone to the sea floor, is about 900 degrees celcius).
So to put it simply - there are four reasons...
1. The ocean really doesn't go very far into the earth
2. Rock is an excellent insulator
3. The inner earth that is below the oceans is actually only 900 degrees, not 5000
4. The upper layers of the ocean absorb infrared solar radiation and heat up, but this solar radiation never reaches the deep ocean
2007-02-06 05:49:51 · answer #1 · answered by brooks b 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You are right, at the surface the water gets colder as one goes deeper up to a certain extent. That is because, below the surface, the water is protected from the sun and surfacial heat. Water being a bad conductor of heat, cannot conduct the surface heat below. But after a few km, the process gets reversed and everything, including water, gets warmer steadily. Note that compared to the huge radius of the earth, a few km at the top is really negligible. So the knowledge that things get warmer is really true.
2007-02-06 12:52:39 · answer #2 · answered by saudipta c 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you are underestimating how much heat the earth actually gets from the sun. Plus surface radiation on the earth also heats the surface. Thus, the surface of the water is always warmer than underneath.
2007-02-06 12:22:57 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is difficult to say why heat comes from below the earth while the heat we feel or accumulate is really from the Sun. May be the heat inside the earth is really the result of underground circulation of electric current.
Circulating water above the earth keeps a constant temperature of 10 degrees C even in winter time.
2007-02-06 12:40:20 · answer #4 · answered by goring 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Solar radiation heats the surface....the water at the surface is being heated from the sun as well as from the internal heat of the earth. Also...you said it yourself. Heat rises, therefore, if for any reason the water below the surface DOES get warmer, it rises to the surface, hence the surface is the warmest part again.
2007-02-06 12:25:12 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Water gets colder if you go deep up to the tectonic plates. Deeper down you have super-heated water thet boils up in submarine vents. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent
2007-02-06 12:26:38 · answer #6 · answered by Catch 22 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It doesn't make sense I know
2007-02-06 12:21:17 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes if you like chickens.
2007-02-06 12:30:28 · answer #8 · answered by Roger S 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋