Greek scientist explains what happened in the core of the planet

An innovative discovery about the mystery of the inner core of the planet was made by scientists from the University of Southern California (USC) in the US, revealing for the first time that this 2,500 -kilometer -wide nickel sphere is distorted.

The inner core of the planet was previously regarded as a harsh, compact sphere, but the new study of the USC scientific team that Published in the journal Nature Geosciences He showed that his ends are softer than they believed and actually changed shape.

Researchers from the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Cornell University and the University of Utah collaborate in the study of the US, which took place in the US.

Although internal core changes have long been a matter of discussion among scientists, most research focused on the issue of rotation. « What we are seeing in this study for the first time is that the wet outer core is probably disturbing the inner core, » said lead researcher Dr. John Vidali.

He explained that the outer core is likely to deform the shape of the inner core, pushing it one or two kilometers into the areas where they are « rubbed » each other.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuqsdryq2jw

The research began with the aim of studying the deceleration of Earth's rotation, with the recording of structural changes in the internal core being a surprise to scientists.

Previous studies have shown that the rotation of the inner core slows down in relation to the rotation of the external, which can cause microscopic changes in rotation of the Earth and can subverdue the day of the day. Although we are talking about the issue of millions of seconds a year, they accumulate for centuries.

The inner core of the planet is not compact

In the context of this research, Dr. Vidali's team studied seismic data from 121 repeated earthquakes in 42 locations near the Antarctic Sandwich Sandwiches that occurred between 1991 and 2024.

As he analyzed the earthquakes, a set of seismic waves in a strange way stood out from the rest. « Later, I realized that I was looking at evidence that the inner core is not compact, » he said.

Repeated earthquakes are earthquakes with the same size and the same position. If a pair of repeated earthquakes occur while the Earth's inner core is in the same position in its rotation, scientists would assume that the recorded seismic data would be the same in both earthquakes.

However, the odd set of data observed by Dr. Vidali defied this logic: « We see these subtle differences, which, if not caused by the turn of the inner core, is more likely to have some deformation on the soft outer perimeter of the inner core. »

Associate Professor of Mineralogy – Petrology in the Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering at the Agricultural University of Athens, Ioannis Baziotis, told RES – EIA radio on research that seismic recordings from stations in the US and in the US.

« The waves that crossed the nucleus presented the same characteristics, while those that 'touched' him superficially displayed differences, suggesting local deformities near his surface. Researchers suggest that these changes are probably due to the interaction of the inner core with the outer liquid core or density abnormalities of the lower mantle, although the exact cause remains under investigation, « he explains.

The process of deformation

As reports article on his page USCphysical activity is best explained as timeless changes in the shape of the inner core. The new study shows that the nearby surface of the inner core can be viscous, changing its shape and shifting to the shallow limit of the inner core.

The most likely cause of structural change is the interaction between the internal and the outer core. « The melted outer core is widely known to be turbulent, but its rush has not been observed to date to disturb its neighbor, the inner core, » Vidali explains.

Dr. Vidali hopes that the revelation his team made can help researchers to unravel further mysteries associated with the inner core and lead to a better understanding of Earth's thermal and magnetic fields.

Mr Baziotis explains elsewhere that « deformation indicates that the core of the planet is not only a static solid mass, but a dynamic system under constant change. The interaction with the outer core seems to disturb its surface, causing local abnormalities that could be linked to the transfer of heat and material to larger scales. « 

And he continues: « The importance of viscous deformation extends beyond the core itself. It indirectly affects the surface of the Earth through its effect on the magnetic field of our planet, which in turn – among other things – protects us from the dangerous solar wind, maintaining the atmosphere and conditions that support life. « 

Mr Baziotis concludes by saying that from a geological point of view, this discovery is critical for understanding the evolution of the interior of the Earth.

« The inner core, which grows by 0.5 mm per year through the crystallization of iron from the outer core, plays a fundamental role in the creation and preservation of the Earth's magnetic field. The viscous deformation, that is, its ability to change shape under the influence of external forces, is linked to its dynamic geodynamics – the process produced by the magnetic field through the transfer of heat of liquid iron to the outer core. Thus, this deformation can and does affect the heat flow from the core to the surface, which in turn helps to transfer and spread heat into the mantle, which is a key factor in the tectonics of the plates and volcanic activity, « the professor concludes.