The Earth’s inner core is a fascinating place located about 3,000 miles beneath the surface. It was once thought to be a solid ball, but recent studies suggest it might be changing. New research reported in Nature Geoscience indicates that the inner core is experiencing structural changes.
Scientists have debated the nature of the inner core for years. While this recent research didn’t focus on its physical properties, it provided new insights into its behavior. The research team aimed to observe a slowdown in the inner core’s activity, but they stumbled upon surprising evidence that this part of the Earth isn’t solid as previously believed.
Led by John Vidale, an Earth Sciences professor at the University of Southern California, the researchers analyzed data from 121 repeating earthquakes collected from 42 different locations near the South Sandwich Islands by Antarctica. They also studied seismic data from stations near Fairbanks, Alaska, and Yellowknife, Canada, spanning from 1991 to 2024. One particular dataset was unlike anything they had encountered before.
Vidale mentioned the initial confusion regarding the dataset. Eventually, the team concluded that movements from the inner core were contributing to the unusual readings. They believe shifts in the inner core’s shape could be causing these changes, specifically near its shallow boundaries.
These modifications in the inner core’s structure might also have subtle effects on the Earth’s rotation, possibly even influencing the length of a day.
Vidale noted that while the outer core is known to be turbulent, this study is among the first to show that these turbulent movements might be affecting the inner core within a human timescale. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the dynamics occurring deep within our planet.
As researchers continue to explore the inner core’s behavior, we can also gain insights into the Earth’s thermal and magnetic fields. This knowledge could help us better understand our planet’s complex processes.
For more details, check out the articles from the University of Southern California and Nature Geoscience.
