Earth’s Inner Core Rotating Slower Than Surface Layer
In a surprising discovery, research published in the journal Nature reported that seismic data showed the Earth’s inner core rotating slower than the surface layer. This change in rotation speed began in 2010 and has implications for the length of the day on Earth. The inner core now rotates more slowly than the surface layer for the first time in decades.
The Earth is made up of several layers, including the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. Each layer has its own unique characteristics and structure. The crust is the outermost layer, followed by the mantle, outer core, and inner core. The outer core, composed mainly of liquid iron and nickel, plays a key role in creating the Earth’s magnetic field.
The inner core is a solid sphere of iron and nickel at the center of the planet. Due to its extreme depth, scientists rely on seismic waves from earthquakes to study its movement. A research team analyzed seismic data from earthquakes near the South Sandwich Islands in the South Atlantic and data from nuclear tests to observe this slowing down.
The slowing down of the inner core can lead to small changes in
