As we know, the interior of our planet is made up of various layers that end in a core. The Earth's core is constantly rotating due to convection currents caused by the difference in densities of the materials that compose it. However, it has recently been discovered that the Earth's core stops.
In this article we are going to tell you why the Earth's core stops, what consequences it can have and much more.
Earth core
The Earth's core is a fundamental part of our planet, located in its center. It is mainly composed of iron and nickel, although it also contains other elements in smaller quantities. It is divided into two different layers: the outer core and the inner core.
The outer core is located inside the Earth, beneath the Earth's mantle and at a depth of approximately 2,900 kilometers below the surface. In this region, the pressure and temperature conditions are extremely high, which causes the materials to be in a liquid state. The convection of liquid metals in the outer core is responsible for the generation of the Earth's magnetic field, a vital phenomenon for the protection of our atmosphere from solar and cosmic radiation.
The inner core, on the other hand, It is a solid sphere located in the center of the outer core, about 5,150 kilometers deep. Despite the high temperatures that exist in this region, the inner core remains solid due to the enormous pressures acting on it. As the inner core gradually cools over time, it contributes to the process of generating the Earth's magnetic field, which in turn has an impact on the geodynamics of the Earth.
The Earth's core stops
While researching earthquakes, scientists at the Institute of Theoretical and Applied Geophysics at Peking University in China inadvertently stumbled upon an unexpected phenomenon. Not only did they not anticipate it, they didn't even examine the speed at which the Earth's core spins.
Although they explored the depths of the Earth, the main objective was not the enormous iron sphere located at the planet's core. This entity, which is located more than 5.000 kilometers below the surface, has a temperature comparable to that of the outside of the Sun and is responsible for producing the Earth's magnetic field.
Life as we currently understand it on Earth would be impossible without it. However, the speed at which it spins has slowed, leading to possible future outcomes for the planet's biosphere. These consequences are predictable for the terrestrial ecosystem. The question that concerns us is whether the Earth's core has stopped.
The Earth's core is a spherical object with a diameter of approximately 1.200 meters. This sphere is suspended in a sea of almost pure iron. Due to its nature, the core rotates on its own axis, similar to the Earth itself. As a result, Yi Yang and Xiaodong Song, leaders of the study, were able to unravel the mystery of whether or not another planet existed within our planet, similar to Russian dolls.
The magnetic field that protects us from cosmic radiation is generated by the "inner planet" of the Earth. This planet rotates within the Earth's mantle, which acts as a complete cover. Every 900 years, the core completes one more revolution than the rest of the planet.
Discovered findings
According to Xiadong Song's findings, the Moon is progressively moving further away from the Earth, altering the tides and ultimately affecting the planet's rotation. This, in turn, results in shorter days, albeit imperceptibly, since the difference is just milliseconds.
During 2009, a researcher studying seismic waves in the South Sandwich Islands observed a slowdown in the Earth's core.
"The planet's core appears to rotate at a rate almost identical to that of the rest of the planet when viewed from space. However, when viewed from the surface where the seismic stations are located, there is a noticeable difference in the rotation of the core. Specifically, the core now turns westward, explains Song.
According to the expert, this seems to occur in 70-year cycles, as evidenced by a comparable event that took place in 1970. However, the question remains: what implications does this have for our current way of life?
Current understanding suggests that the phenomenon in question arises from gravitational interactions between Earth and its only natural satellite. However, a recent study from Peking University argues that the implications of this phenomenon will be felt around the world. As for the cause of the accelerated rotation of the Earth's core, researchers have relied on well-studied dynamics dating back to the 1990s. This dynamic involves the differential rotation of the Earth's inner core relative to the mantle, which it is believed that It is driven by the influence of the geodynamo on the behavior of the core and the gravitational coupling between the core and the mantle.
Consequences of the Earth's core stopping
According to findings published in Nature Geoscience, it is deduced that the Earth's rotation has been affected by seismic waves. This pattern has been monitored since 1990, with seismic records in Alaska and doublets in the South Sandwich Islands. The most recent findings suggest that the Earth's core has ceased its rotation.
According to the authors, the change referred to dates back to "gravitational coupling and the exchange of angular momentum from the surface to the core and mantle." This change has given rise to several events worth mentioning:
- It is possible that the length of days is minimally reduced, maybe in a few seconds.
- Aalterations of the magnetic field.
- Minor variations in the Earth's climate on a global scale.
Despite the changes that are happening on the Earth's surface, it is possible that both humans and other species are not aware of these modifications. Although these changes may be slight, they will be noticeable throughout the planet.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about if the Earth's core stops and what consequences it has.