[burzum]

No, I was specifically commenting on the fact that the writer thought that 2150 F is ten times the boiling point.

Of what? Water at atmospheric pressure?

That temperature is 373 K. 2150 F is 1450 K, certainly not ten times the value. In any other case (such as the boiling point of water under high pressure--such as the bottom of the ocean), the ratio is even lower.

A person who writes about science should know better. A first year physics student would know better. It is obvious that the author forgot about the thermodynamic temperature scale.

[saganite]

Boiling point at sea level is 212 F so, since he's talking F for the temp of the magma, I guess that's where he figured it's 10 times the boiling point of water.

[manwiththehands]

Thanks. I see that now. Didn't get that far in your post ... still waiting for the caffeine to kick in ...

[wolfpat]

You're right. This gives no real information as to how much heat is actually being added to the water.

[nightdriver]

"No, I was specifically commenting on the fact that the writer thought that 2150 F is ten times the boiling point.

Of what? Water at atmospheric pressure?"

You're absolutely right.

In fact, water at about 2200 meters below the surface, and lower, will never boil, no matter what the temperature, because it is above the critical pressure (about 3200 psi).