To date, man has not “visited” by any means the inner core of the Earth, though, in the collective subconscious, we have the thought that this sphere in the … sphere has no secrets. And yet, the Earth, the “pale blue dot” on which we live and breathe now reveals something new to scientists. Based on what we know, the inner core is a solid sphere of radius some 1,220 kilometers consisting mainly of iron and nickel. It is located in the center of our planet, and is surrounded by the liquid outer core. And certainly none of us can do there a “trip to the center of the earth”.

“With temperatures ranging from 5,000 to 6,000 ° C and pressures reaching 3.5 million atmospheres, the inner core is one of the most extreme environments we can see! So the recent discovery of the behavior of the internal core, as reflected in a study published in the prestigious scientific journal Nature Geosciences, but brings to light new aspects of its dynamics, with significant impacts that could be visible even on a human time. The Associate Professor of Mineralogy-Petrology in the Department of Natural Resources and Agricultural Engineering of the Agricultural University of Athens, Ioannis Baziotis.

Seismic waves revealed something crucial to understanding the evolution of the Earth’s inner

What is the special research done under the guidance of John Vidale from the University of Southern California? Mr Baziotis clarifies: “I am not a seismologist, however, the results of the research are important to be evaluated by all scientific directions, including the mineralogy and the petrology I embrace. The research of scientists was based on the analysis of seismic waves of earthquakes-“Doublets”-which occurred in the Antarctic Sandwich Islands in the period 1991-2023. Seismic recordings from stations in the US and Canada have revealed changes both in the speed of rotation and in the shape of the internal core. Specifically, the waves that crossed the core presented the same characteristics, while those that “touched” it superficially displayed differences, indicating local deformities near its 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.

From a geological point of view, this discovery is critical for understanding the evolution of the Earth’s inner 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 geodynamic – 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 transform and disseminate heat into the mantle, which is a key factor in the tectonic plates and volcanic activity, “the professor stresses.

Isn’t the Earth’s core fixed?

For the Petrology industry, this research raises, according to the Greek specialist, questions about the physical condition and composition of the inner core. “Although the exact chemical composition or specific mineralogical phases that may be affected are largely unknown -due to limited data analysis, distortion suggests that the core 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, ”explains Mr Baziotis.

But is there anything more that the scientific community or even the everyday man would like to learn? As Professor Ioannis Baziotis explains, “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. ” It is characteristic that changes in the shape of the core may affect the stability of geodynamics, with possible long -term consequences even for climate conditions and biological evolution on our planet. In addition, it is worth noting that the observations made by scientists in their study do not have a duration that is merely extending to geological time, but unfolding on a human time scale, “he points out.

Changes in the rate of rotation and the shape of the inner core have annual volatility. However, direct connection to observable surface phenomena, such as earthquakes, requires further research. As typically adds by Dr. Baziotis “could, potentially, this study be the confirmation of what we believed, as it could have a very significant impact on the geological, mineralogical, petrological and geochemical understanding of our planet.” However, as he adds, “the discovery of the viscous deformation of the inner core illuminates the dynamic nature of the deepest interior of the Earth. Until we get to this point we are far away, as this study still has a low degree of discreet ability, such as further analyzes of corresponding earthquakes, other geophysical parameters and experiments in the laboratory under certain conditions that simulate the conditions of the lower cloak, and the core. ” In any case, according to the analysis of the Greek scientist of the new discovery, it is understood that the inner core of our Earth is not solid in the way we have believed to date …