Figure 2: Stabilizing and destabilizing gradients for three core energetics models.

Equivalent temperature gradients, T′, plotted against radius for three core evolution models. The stabilizing gradient is due to conduction down the adiabat, (red lines). Compositional buoyancy is denoted by (blue lines), latent heat by , secular cooling by and radiogenic heating by . The total destabilizing thermal gradient is represented by the green lines; total destabilizing thermochemical gradients are represented by black lines. Three models from Table 2 are shown: a, model 2 (Δρ = 0.8 g cm⁻³, dT_o/dt = 46 K Gyr⁻¹ and h = 0); b, model 4 (Δρ = 0.6 g cm⁻³, dT_o/dt = 123 K Gyr⁻¹ and h = 0); c, model 9 (Δρ = 0.6 g cm⁻³, dT_o/dt = 8.7 K Gyr⁻¹ and h = 6.9 pW kg⁻¹).

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