The Earth's inner core has the highest temperature. Temperatures in the inner core reach an estimated 5200-5700° Celsius (9392-10292° Fahrenheit). This extreme heat is due to the immense pressure and radioactive decay within this innermost layer.
Understanding Earth's Layers and Temperatures
The Earth is composed of several distinct layers, each with unique characteristics and temperatures:
- Crust: The outermost solid shell, relatively cool compared to the interior.
- Mantle: A thick, mostly solid layer beneath the crust, with temperatures increasing with depth.
- Outer Core: A liquid layer composed primarily of iron and nickel, exhibiting extremely high temperatures.
- Inner Core: The Earth's innermost layer, a solid sphere of iron and nickel, experiencing the highest temperatures and pressures.
Multiple sources confirm that the inner core possesses the highest temperature. For example, Byju's states, "Of the various layers of the Earth, the inner core has the highest temperature," https://byjus.com/question-answer/which-of-the-following-layers-of-the-earth-has-the-highest-temperature/ and Brainly corroborates this, stating that the inner core has "the highest temperatures at 5000-6000 degrees Celsius" https://brainly.com/question/24165877. The high temperatures within the inner core are such that metals exist in a molten state. [Reference provided in prompt].
The intense pressure within the inner core contributes significantly to its solid state despite the extreme heat. This pressure prevents the iron and nickel from becoming liquid.
