Question: In the upper 10 km of the crust, the geothermal gradient is typically about $25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ per km, but can range from $15^{\circ} \mathrm{C} / \mathrm{km}$ to $50^{\circ} \mathrm{C} / \mathrm{km}$. Plot these three... In the upper 10 km of the crust, the geothermal gradient is typically about $25^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ per km, but can range from $15^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ $/ \mathrm{km}$ to $50^{\circ} \mathrm{C} / \mathrm{km}$. Plot these three geothermal gradients for the upper 10 km of the Earth. Depth (km) | 0 | | | | | | | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | | | | | | | | | | | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0 | 50 | 100 | 150 | 200 | 250 | 300 | 350 | 400 | 450 | 500 | Temperature $\left({ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\right)$ Answer the following questions based on the graphed data above: | The deepest mine on Earth extends penetrates to a depth of 2 km . How hot is it at the bottom of that mine? | | | --- | --- | | What is the range of temperatures that you could expect at a depth of 8 km ? | |
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Step 1
: To find the temperature at the bottom of the mine that extends to a depth of 2 km, we use the geothermal gradient of $25^{\circ} extrm{C}$ per km.

= 50^{\circ} extrm{C}
We multiply the geothermal gradient by the depth of the mine. Temperature at 2 km depth = Geothermal gradient * Depth

Final Answer

Step 2: To find the range of temperatures at a depth of 8 km, we use the minimum and maximum geothermal gradients given: $15^{\circ} extrm{C}$ /km and $50^{\circ} extrm{C}$ /km. We multiply each gradient by the depth of 8 km to find the corresponding temperatures. Temperature range at 8 km depth: Minimum temperature = Minimum geothermal gradient * Depth = 15^{\circ} extrm{C/km} imes 8 km = 120^{\circ} extrm{C} Maximum temperature = Maximum geothermal gradient * Depth = 50^{\circ} extrm{C/km} imes 8 km = 400^{\circ} extrm{C}