How much does your Blaster know about Earth’s history and structure? Recently, scientists used seismic waves to measure and explain the peculiar properties found in our planet’s inner core. This can be used as evidence to further our knowledge on geology and Earth Science. Let us take a look at the composition of Earth to have a better understanding of the significance of this discovery.
Chemically, our globe is divided into FIVE layers: crust, upper mantle, lower mantle, outer core, and inner core.
- Crust is essentially the outermost shell of our rocky planet
- Upper mantle is the layer beneath the crust, which is mechanically weak, and is mainly a solid but can melt at some point that turns it into liquid form
- Lower mantle is the buffer between the upper mantle and the outer core. It causes sharp increases in seismic wave velocities and has a high density, with firm rigidness.
- Outer core is a layer that is in liquid form, with a composition of iron and nickel. Depending on far the area is to the inner core, the temperature of the outer core can range from 8000°F to 11,000°F.
- Inner core is said to be the size of our Moon and is believed to be a solid ball made up of iron and nickel. Scientists found this layer to be distinctive to the other layers due to its property to deflect seismic waves when earthquake occurs. Since it is impossible to investigate this part of the Earth physically, scientists were only able to deduce a few facts.
What is fascinating about this new research is that scientists found that just before the iron starts to melt in the core, it becomes more yielding and less stiff, which creates a transverse motion, like the waves on a rope, rather than waves that moves through a spring. Scientists now have a better understanding of Earth’s inner core, but they continue to work on finding how other elements within the core can affect their geophysical measurements.
Filed under: Current Events, Just for Fun, Newsletter, Science Facts, What's New Tagged: | Crust, Density, Earth, Earth Science, Earth's Structure, Geology, Inner Core, Iron, Liquid, Mantle, Nickel, Outer Core, Seismic Wave, Solid, Transverse Motion
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