A recent study published in the Journal Nature suggests that Earth’s inner core began slowing its rotation in 2010, potentially altering the length of a day by fractions of a second.

USC Finds Inner Core Slowdown Since 2010, Impacting Earth’s Magnetic Field

Researchers from the University of Southern California analyzed seismic data and nuclear tests and provided “unambiguous evidence” of this slowdown, sparking debate on core dynamics and Earth’s rotation.

• Reason for Slowing Down:
  • They observed a slowdown starting around 2010, possibly influenced by the outer core’s movements generating Earth’s magnetic field or gravitational forces.
• Implications of Slowdown:
  • The inner core’s rotation is crucial in generating Earth’s magnetic field, which shields the planet from harmful solar radiation and influences geological processes.
  • Therefore, any changes in the inner core’s rotational speed could potentially impact Earth’s magnetic properties, possibly affecting geomagnetic events and natural conditions on the planet’s surface.

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Earth’s Inner Core

• Composition and Structure: The Earth’s inner core is a solid sphere composed primarily of iron and nickel. It is roughly the size of the moon and situated over 4,500 kilometers beneath the Earth’s surface.
• Layers of the Earth
  • Inner Core: Solid iron-nickel sphere.
  • Outer Core: Liquid layer generating the magnetic field.
  • Mantle: Viscous layer with convection currents driving plate tectonics.
  • Crust: Thin, solid outermost layer where life and geological activity occur.
• Research and Study: Direct observation of the inner core is impossible. Instead, scientists study it by analyzing seismic waves produced by earthquakes and nuclear tests.