A new study has revealed that the Earth's inner core may have begun rotating in the opposite direction. Going by the research, which was published in the journal Nature Geoscience, could lead to a deeper understanding of how the planet's internal processes can affect the surface, including the length of a day. The rotation of the inner core has been a topic of debate for some time, and this latest discovery is considered controversial. Earths Inner Core Spins-Earths Inner Core Spins
The Earth's core is composed of two parts: the outer core and the inner core. The outer core contains molten iron and nickel, whereas the inner core is a solid ball of iron-nickel alloy. The outer core separates it from the rest of the Earth, causing it to rotate unevenly. The Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field, known as the magnetosphere, which acts as a protective barrier against harmful cosmic radiation. This field also generates its own electrical current, further shielding the planet and all life on it from the effects of space weather.Experts from Peking University in Beijing have uncovered alarming findings from their analysis of seismic waves generated by near-identical earthquakes traversing similar paths through Earth's inner core since the 1960s. Their research has revealed a concerning trend that demands further investigation. They found that the inner core's rotation "came to a near halt around 2009 and then turned in an opposite direction." They believe that the inner core rotates back and forth, like a swing, with one cycle lasting about seven decades. They predict that the next cycle will be in the mid-2040s. Earths Inner Core Spins-Earths Inner Core Spins
The researchers believe that there are physical links between all of the Earth's layers, from the inner core to the surface. They hope that their study will motivate other researchers to build and test models that treat the whole Earth as an integrated dynamic system.
Earths Inner Core Spins-Earths Inner Core Spins
The Earth's core is composed of two parts: the outer core and the inner core. The outer core contains molten iron and nickel, whereas the inner core is a solid ball of iron-nickel alloy. The outer core separates it from the rest of the Earth, causing it to rotate unevenly. The Earth is surrounded by a magnetic field, known as the magnetosphere, which acts as a protective barrier against harmful cosmic radiation. This field also generates its own electrical current, further shielding the planet and all life on it from the effects of space weather.
Experts from Peking University in Beijing have uncovered alarming findings from their analysis of seismic waves generated by near-identical earthquakes traversing similar paths through Earth's inner core since the 1960s. Their research has revealed a concerning trend that demands further investigation. They found that the inner core's rotation "came to a near halt around 2009 and then turned in an opposite direction." They believe that the inner core rotates back and forth, like a swing, with one cycle lasting about seven decades. They predict that the next cycle will be in the mid-2040s.
Earths Inner Core Spins-Earths Inner Core Spins
The researchers believe that there are physical links between all of the Earth's layers, from the inner core to the surface. They hope that their study will motivate other researchers to build and test models that treat the whole Earth as an integrated dynamic system.
