The temperature of Earth's mantle varies significantly with depth:
- Near the boundary with the crust (upper mantle), temperatures range roughly from 500 to 900 degrees Celsius (932 to 1652 degrees Fahrenheit)
. Some sources specify about 1000°C near 100 km depth
- Recent studies indicate that the upper mantle under the oceans is about 60°C hotter than previously thought, reaching around 1410°C (2570°F)
- The temperature increases with depth, reaching approximately 4000°C (7232°F) near the boundary with the Earth's core in the lower mantle
- More detailed profiles estimate temperatures of about 1566°C at 410 km depth, rising to around 2314°C at 2800 km depth, and up to about 3300 K (3027°C) deeper in the lower mantle
Despite these high temperatures, most of the mantle remains solid due to the immense pressure, which raises the melting point of mantle rocks
. The mantle’s heat affects its viscosity and the movement of tectonic plates, with hotter regions flowing more easily, facilitating plate tectonics
. In summary, the mantle is extremely hot, ranging from about 500–900°C near the crust to up to 4000°C near the core, with recent research suggesting some parts are hotter than previously estimated.
