Heat flow (Earth) refers to the conductive and convective transfer of thermal energy from Earth’s interior to its surface, quantified as heat flux (typically in mW/m²). It arises from the decay of radiogenic isotopes (primarily U, Th, K) in the crust and mantle, residual primordial heat from accretion and core formation, and secular cooling of the core. Measured using borehole temperature gradients and thermal conductivity of rocks, terrestrial heat flow constrains models of lithospheric thickness, mantle convection, plate tectonics, and the global energy budget, and is spatially heterogeneous, with elevated values at mid-ocean ridges and volcanic regions and lower values in stable cratons.
A new study has found that public parks in underserved areas of Los Angeles can reach dangerously high temperatures, in some cases hot enough to cause pain or burns, because of the materials used to build them. The differences ...
Environment
22 hours ago
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Scientists at The University of Manchester have developed a new way to measure how traffic contributes to rising urban temperatures, revealing that everyday vehicle use can play a measurable role in making cities warmer. ...
Earth Sciences
Apr 8, 2026
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For millions of commuters, the workday doesn't just begin with a train ride. It also begins with a blast of heat. In one of the largest studies ever conducted on thermal comfort in metro systems, Northwestern University scientists ...
Environment
Mar 10, 2026
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A new study has identified a distinct climate precursor in the Mediterranean Sea that can predict winter precipitation levels in the Levant months in advance. The study, published in Weather and Climate Dynamics, is titled ...
Earth Sciences
Feb 24, 2026
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The world is warming. This fact is most often discussed for Earth's surface, where we live. But the climate is also changing from the top of the atmosphere to the bottom of the ocean. And there is a clear fingerprint of humanity's ...
Environment
Feb 7, 2026
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The Indonesian Throughflow carries both warm water and fresh water from the Pacific into the Indian Ocean. As the only low-latitude current that connects the two bodies of water, it plays a key role in ocean circulation and ...
Earth Sciences
Jan 14, 2026
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Earth is taking in more energy than it releases back to space—a growing "energy imbalance" that is fueling global warming. A new study led by scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, ...
Earth Sciences
Dec 23, 2025
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With modern seismic tomography, Earth scientists have discovered that above Earth's core-mantle boundary (CMB), about 2,900 kilometers beneath our feet, there is a thin layer about 300 kilometers thick with remarkable structural ...
Earth Sciences
Dec 23, 2025
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Mountain permafrost is warming and thawing worldwide due to climate change, with ground temperature being a key control of its mechanical stability. Heat conduction is the dominant mode of heat transfer in frozen ground, ...
Earth Sciences
Dec 18, 2025
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On a winter day in Northern Canada, the cold feels absolute. Snow squeaks underfoot and rivers lie silent beneath thick ice. Yet beneath that familiar surface, the ground is quietly accumulating heat.
Environment
Dec 17, 2025
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