📷 Image Credits: NDTV
The recent study, led by scientists from the University of Southern California (USC), has confirmed that the Earth’s inner core is rotating more slowly than the planet’s surface. This groundbreaking research has significant implications for Earth’s magnetic field stability and the duration of our days. The study, published in Nature, provides evidence that the inner core began to decrease its speed around 2010, marking a significant shift in planetary mechanics.
The inner core, a super-hot, super-dense sphere of iron and nickel located over 4,800km beneath our feet, has been a subject of debate among scientists for decades. Using seismic data from repeated earthquakes between 1991 and 2023, the researchers were able to track the inner core’s movement and identify the slowdown in rotation. This change is attributed to the turbulent motion of the liquid outer core and gravitational forces from the rocky mantle.
John Vidale, the lead researcher, expressed surprise at the findings, noting that the backtracking of the inner core could alter the length of a day by fractions of a second. While the impact may seem negligible, it underscores the intricate interactions within our planet. The research team now aims to delve deeper into understanding the trajectory of the inner core to unravel the reasons behind its shifting behavior. This study sheds light on the dynamic nature of Earth’s core and highlights the need for further exploration and analysis to better comprehend these geophysical phenomena.
