Hidden Structure Inside The Earth’s Core Detected By Scientists
Scientists have discovered a fifth layer of Earth deep within the inner core.
Many remember science class as children when they were taught about the layers of the planet. For decades, students were taught that there were four layers to the Earth: the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core. However, new evidence suggests that there is more to the planet than just those four layers and there is actually a fifth layer deep within the inner core, according to Science Alert.
It is not often that science textbooks need to be rewritten, yet that may be exactly what will need to happen with this newest discovery. About a year ago, scientists first found evidence of there being another layer in the Earth’s core. It had been speculated for years that there might be more to this planet, as some experimental evidence found inconsistencies with the four-layer Earth model.
Now, scientists understand why with this newest breakthrough. This innermost layer of the Earth is estimated to be scorching hot, with temperatures calculated to surpass 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The total volume of this layer takes up only one percent of Earth’s total volume.
To date, much of what scientists know about Earth and its inner core comes from what can be inferred from volcanoes and seismic activity. After studying the movement of long seismic waves through Earth’s inner core, scientists were able to conclude that there may be another core located inside of the inner core. Much about this deep center of the Earth remains unknown, with scientists still in the early phases of discovery.
There are a few theories about what would be inside this new inner Earth core. The outer layers of the Earth, the crust and mantle, are made up of numerous minerals. However, the inner layers are comprised nearly entirely of metals like nickel and iron. So far, scientists believe that the new inner core could be made up of iron crystals with a distinct structural makeup.
This new discovery is exciting for many scientists, as what goes on under the surface of Earth can tell us a lot about the core and the planet’s history. This newest development also revealed a change in the iron structure in the Earth’s center, showing that there were possibly two major cooldowns in the planet’s history.
It is important that scientists reach a better understanding of the Earth’s long past, and it can help shine a light on current geological changes. The inner core can help reveal what the planet was like before humans came around. While this new development may not be met with much excitement from the average person, we all have a lot to thank the Earth’s core for.
The inner core is the reason the Earth can support abundant life. Convection from the Earth’s inner core to its outer layers supports the magnetic field that allows the Earth’s atmosphere to exist. This magnetic field also protects us from harsh solar radiation.
There truly could not be life on Earth without the planet’s inner workings and core. With this new discovery of a deeper core, scientists can learn more about the planet we live on.
