A groundbreaking study reveals that the Earth's inner core is not as solid as previously thought and its surface is undergoing structural changes likely caused by interactions with the turbulent molten outer core.
Researchers have uncovered evidence of structural alterations within the Earth's core. A team led by Professor John Vidale from the University of Southern California embarked on an investigation into the rotation of the inner core, a subject of ongoing scientific debate. However, their findings extended far beyond their initial objective, revealing surprising changes in the inner core's surface structure.
The researchers' primary aim was not to study the physical characteristics of the inner core but rather to understand its rotational patterns. During their analysis of decades-worth of seismic data, a particular dataset of seismic waves originating from earthquakes near Antarctica between 1991 and 2024 caught their attention. These waves, recorded at a receiver-array station in Canada, exhibited unusual characteristics unlike any previously observed. Professor Vidale, initially perplexed by the data, delved deeper into the analysis. The unusual waves hinted at unconventional activities occurring within the inner core, ultimately leading to the groundbreaking discovery of structural changes. Further analysis revealed that the inner core's surface appears to be undergoing dynamic transformations over time, suggesting it is not as solid as previously believed. The most plausible explanation for these changes points to the interaction between the inner and outer core. The turbulent molten outer core is thought to be exerting a force on the inner core, causing its surface to shift and deform. This phenomenon, observed for the first time, sheds new light on the complex dynamics within our planet's core. The findings have significant implications for our understanding of the Earth's internal structure and its effects on phenomena like the length of a day. Scientists believe that the shifting topography of the inner core's surface could be influencing its rotation, causing subtle variations in the duration of a day. Additionally, this discovery may be linked to the observed slowdown in the inner core's rotation over time. The study's results were published in the esteemed journal Nature Geoscience
EARTH CORE INNER CORE OUTER CORE SEISMIC WAVES ROTATION STRUCTURAL CHANGES VISCOUS DEFORMATION
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