geothermal gradient

noun

1. the increase in temperature with increasing depth within the earth.

Word History and Origins

Origin of geothermal gradient¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

That's called the geothermal gradient.

Read more on National Geographic

The typical geothermal gradient increases at a rate of just 30 °C per kilometre below ground, and a shallow borehole that the team drilled nearby in 2011 had a gradient of twice that.

Read more on Nature

Both these methods depend on how fast the earth is losing heat, that is on the geothermal gradient.

Read more on Project Gutenberg