Ask A Scientist General Science Archive

Question:
Given that the earth does generate some of its own heat due to radioactive
decay, what would the temperature of the earth tend to if the sun
suddenly and inexplicably vanished?
 observe

Answer:
I'm not sure how one would do calculations to answer this question, but it
occurred to me that we have places on earth where the sun's influence is
nearly absent for extended periods -- the Arctic and Antarctic regions
during their respective winters. Since the rest of the Earth is receiving
warmth from the sun at those times, and since surely some of that warmth
makes its way to the poles, I think it is reasonable to conclude that,
at best, the heat from the earth's interior would be able to maintain
worldwide temperatures no higher than those we now find at the poles. And
I'd be willing to guess that temps would drop quite a lot lower than even
that.
 rcwinther