<P> Geothermal gradient is the rate of increasing temperature with respect to increasing depth in the Earth's interior . Away from tectonic plate boundaries, it is about 25--30 ° C / km (28--34 ° F / mi) of depth near the surface in most of the world . Strictly speaking, geo - thermal necessarily refers to the Earth but the concept may be applied to other planets . </P> <P> The Earth's internal heat comes from a combination of residual heat from planetary accretion, heat produced through radioactive decay, and possibly heat from other sources . The major heat - producing isotopes in the Earth are potassium - 40, uranium - 238, uranium - 235, and thorium - 232 . At the center of the planet, the temperature may be up to 7,000 K and the pressure could reach 360 GPa (3.6 million atm). Because much of the heat is provided by radioactive decay, scientists believe that early in Earth history, before isotopes with short half - lives had been depleted, Earth's heat production would have been much higher . Heat production was twice that of present - day at approximately 3 billion years ago, resulting in larger temperature gradients within the Earth, larger rates of mantle convection and plate tectonics, allowing the production of igneous rocks such as komatiites that are no longer formed . </P> <P> Temperature within the Earth increases with depth . Highly viscous or partially molten rock at temperatures between 650 to 1,200 ° C (1,200 to 2,200 ° F) are found at the margins of tectonic plates, increasing the geothermal gradient in the vicinity, but only the outer core is postulated to exist in a molten or fluid state, and the temperature at the Earth's inner core / outer core boundary, around 3,500 kilometres (2,200 mi) deep, is estimated to be 5650 ± 600 kelvins . The heat content of the Earth is 10 joules . </P> <Ul> <Li> Much of the heat is created by decay of naturally radioactive elements . An estimated 45 to 90 percent of the heat escaping from the Earth originates from radioactive decay of elements mainly located in the mantle . </Li> <Li> Heat of impact and compression released during the original formation of the Earth by accretion of in - falling meteorites . </Li> <Li> Heat released as abundant heavy metals (iron, nickel, copper) descended to the Earth's core . </Li> <Li> Latent heat released as the liquid outer core crystallizes at the inner core boundary . </Li> <Li> Heat may be generated by tidal force on the Earth as it rotates; since rock cannot flow as readily as water it compresses and distorts, generating heat . </Li> <Li> There is no reputable science to suggest that any significant heat may be created by electromagnetic effects of the magnetic fields involved in Earth's magnetic field, as suggested by some contemporary folk theories . </Li> </Ul>

Higher temperatures beneath the earth’s surface can