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What effects would having 2-3 times the current heat flow of the Earth have had in the past? Would this have had a significant effect on global temperatures?
It has been known to cause cooling.JesseC said:If it is true that there would have been more volcanism, would this not have had an indirect effect due to more frequent bursts of aerosols + volcanic gasses?
A volcanic winter is the reduction in temperature caused by volcanic ash and droplets of sulfuric acid obscuring the sun and raising Earth's albedo (increasing the Earth's reflectivity of solar radiation) after a large particularly explosive type of volcanic eruption. Long-term cooling effects are primarily dependent upon injection of sulfide compounds in aerosol forms into the upper atmosphere—the stratosphere—the highest, least active levels of the lower atmosphere where little precipitation occurs, requiring a lengthy time to wash the aerosols out of the region.
Earth's heat flow has fluctuated over millions of years due to various factors such as plate tectonics, volcanic activity, and changes in the Earth's orbit. Overall, there has been a gradual decrease in heat flow since the Earth's formation.
The main factors that contribute to changes in Earth's heat flow are plate tectonics and radioactive decay. Plate tectonics can cause heat to escape through volcanic activity, while radioactive decay produces heat from within the Earth's core.
Scientists use a variety of methods to measure Earth's heat flow in the past, including studying the composition of rocks and minerals, analyzing the magnetic properties of rocks, and using computer models to simulate past heat flow.
Studying Earth's heat flow in the past can provide valuable insights into the Earth's history, including the formation of continents and oceans, the evolution of life, and the impact of environmental changes on the planet.
Earth's heat flow plays a crucial role in shaping the planet's surface and sustaining life. It drives processes such as plate tectonics, which create and destroy landmasses, and influences the Earth's climate and weather patterns.