September 29, 2024 at 8:03 pm
The Earth's internal structure retains millions of years of history, however Latest research He still has surprises in store. Australian National University geophysicist Joan Stevenson and her team have found new evidence suggesting there is another layer hidden deeper in the Earth's inner core.
New discoveries in the inner core
Traditionally, we thought that the Earth had four layers: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core. However, according to recent seismic observations, the inner core can be divided into an additional inner layer. Using a special algorithm, the researchers analyzed seismic data for several decades, which depends on the propagation time of seismic waves.
The results showed that the material of the inner core behaves differently depending on the direction in which the waves propagate. This may indicate that several separate cooling events occurred in Earth's history, leading to changes in the structure of the inner core.
What does all this mean for Earth's past?
The researchers believe that the newly discovered inner layer may indicate a distinct evolutionary phase in Earth's history that is still partly a mystery. This discovery challenges current models and prompts scientists to rethink the composition and history of the Earth's inner core. Structural differences in iron crystals in the inner core may also indicate this.
Future research and challenges
While the current data is impressive, scientists stress that more research is needed to get a more accurate picture. The propagation of seismic waves is affected by the location of the earthquake epicenter and monitoring stations. This makes collecting accurate data significantly more difficult. However, scientists hope that future research will confirm or refine these findings to better understand the secrets of the Earth's core.
