Matters of state and motion - Physical Processes in Earth and Environmental Sciences - page 21

Box 2.1 Some thermal definitions and properties of earth materials

Thermal Diffusivity , k , units m 2 s -1 x 10 -6 at
standard T and P .

Specific heat capacities , c p , units
of J kg -1 K -1 , at standard T and P .

Air 1,006
Water vapor (100 ° C) 2,020
Water 4,182
Seawater 3,900
Olive oil 1,970
Iron 106
Copper 385
Aluminum 913
Silica fiber 788
Carbon (graphite) 710
Mantle rock (olivine) 840
Limestone

Air 21.5

Water 0.143

Mantle rock 1.1

Thermal diffusivity indicates the rate of dissemination
of heat with time. It is the ratio of rate of passage of
heat energy (conductivity) to heat energy storage
capacity (specific heat per unit volume) of any material

Heat flow required for vaporization , L v ,
units of kJ kg -1 . Sometimes termed latent
heat of vaporization , more correctly it is the
specific enthalpy change on vaporization
(see Section 3.4).

880

Specific Heat Capacity , c p , c v , is the amount of heat
required to raise the temperature of 1 kg of substance
by 1 K . Subscripts refer to constant volume or pressure

water to water vapor
(and vice versa)

Coefficients (multiply by 10 -6 ) of
linear thermal expansion ,

2,260

a l , units
of K -1 at standard T and P .

Heat flow required for fusion , L f ,
units of kJ kg -1 . Sometimes termed latent
heat of fusion, more correctly it is the specific
enthalpy change on fusion (see Section 3.4).

Iron 12
Copper 17
Aluminum 23
Silica fiber 0.4
Carbon (graphite) 7.9
Crustal rock (to 373 K) 7-10

Ice 335

Mg Olivine 871

Na Feldspar 216

Basalt 308

Coefficients (multiply by 10 -4 ) of
cubical thermal expansion , a v , units
of K -1 at standard T and P .

Heat flow produced by crystallization ,
(multiply by 10 4 ) units of J kg -1 .

Water 2.1

Olive Oil 7.0

Basalt magma
to basalt

Crustal rock 0.2-0.3

40

Water to ice 32

Thermal conductivity , l , units of
W m -1 K -1 at standard T and P .

Air 0.0241
Water 0.591
Olive oil 0.170
Iron 80
Copper 385
Aluminum 201
Silica fiber 9.2
Carbon (graphite) 5
Mantle rock (olivine) 3-4.5
Limestone 2-3.4

Thermal Conductivity is the rate of flow of heat
through unit area in unit time