New research reveals that Earth's inner core is not solid and unyielding as previously thought, but rather deforms over time. This discovery challenges long-held assumptions about the inner core and opens up new questions about its influence on our planet, including the length of our day, Earth's magnetic field, and more.
For decades, Earth's inner core was believed to be a solid, unchanging entity. However, recent research has revealed that this innermost layer of our planet is not as static as previously thought. By analyzing the patterns of seismic waves generated by earthquakes, scientists have discovered that the inner core exhibits deformation, suggesting a dynamic and evolving structure.
This finding challenges long-held assumptions about the inner core and opens up new avenues for understanding its influence on various aspects of our planet, including the length of our day, Earth's magnetic field, and more. Researchers made this groundbreaking discovery by examining seismic waves originating from the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic Ocean. These waves traveled across the globe, reaching seismometers in Alaska and Canada. Notably, the waveforms, or shapes, of some seismic signals shifted between 2004 and 2008. This alteration was attributed to the waves briefly penetrating Earth's inner core, which was undergoing deformation during this period. The inner core is surrounded by an outer core, forming a boundary approximately 5,100 kilometers below Earth's surface. This boundary is a realm of mystery, and previous studies using seismic waves had revealed that the inner core is composed of solid metal rotating within a super-hot molten outer core, primarily consisting of iron and nickel. Scientists had observed that the inner core's rotation speed fluctuates over time and that it spins at a slightly different rate than the rest of the Earth. Some researchers had proposed that changes in seismic signals passing through Earth were caused by shifts in the core's rotation, while others suggested physical changes at the inner core-outer core boundary. The new findings support both explanations. Many waveform variations from earthquakes originating in the South Sandwich Islands can be attributed to core rotation, according to Vidale. However, some variations are likely caused by the inner core-outer core boundary deforming, developing bulges in certain areas. This discovery sheds light on the dynamic nature of Earth's inner regions. The inner core gradually grows over time as iron from the outer core solidifies onto it. This process drives churning in the outer core, which sustains Earth's magnetic field. Changes in the inner core's rotation can also impact the length of our day. Researchers strive to connect these observed phenomena to unravel the mysteries of Earth's deep interior
EARTH's INNER CORE DEFORMATION SEISMIC WAVES EARTH's MAGNETIC FIELD PLANETARY EVOLUTION
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