The Earth’s Core Is Still A Big Mystery And Here Is What We Don’t Know About It.

Despite being quite close to us, the Earth’s core is still a mysterious structure. We can divide it into the inner core and the outer core. We also know it’s mostly composed of iron, and it’s responsible for our planet’s magnetic field. So let’s take a closer look at its functions and structure.

The outer core

The Earth’s structure is quite similar to an onion. It is made of four layers, each having a different structure and plays a different role in the Earth’s geology. Two of the layers of Earth create the core.

The outer core lies about 3 thousand kilometers from the surface, and it is the only liquid layer of the Earth. That is because it’s not under enough pressure to be solid. It is made mainly of iron, nickel, with the occurrence of sulfur and oxygen. Moreover, the temperature inside is exceptionally high- up to 6,000°C (10,832 °F). Due to the convection of fluid ferromagnetic substances, the Earth creates a magnetic field. This, in turn, leads to a stable atmosphere and conditions for life.

The inner core

The innermost layers of the Earth comprise the inner core. It is probably a solid sphere with about a 1,200 kilometers radius (70% of the Moon’s radius). It is as hot as the surface of the Sun (about 5,600°C). Quite like the outer layer, it is made of iron and nickel. Interestingly, the study from 2015 suggested that the inner core has two layers. The data collected showed that the crystals in the inner layer are in an east-to-west direction. Those in the outer line up north to south. This implies a phenomenon that flipped the core’s orientation, turning the crystals in the ‘outer’ inner core. However, that hypothesis needs more studies.

Major functions

We still don’t know a lot about our planet’s core. However, we can establish that its behavior is a key factor for life on our planet. First of all, the moving iron and nickel create a magnetic field. That field protects the layer from solar wind and UV radiation. Therefore, it protects life on our planet from harmful particles. Moreover, the core’s radiating heat keeps the Earth’s surface warm. Sometimes people use that geothermal energy to warm their houses (for example, in Iceland).

Mysteries of the Earth’s core

Earth’s layers are just a few kilometers down from us; however, we know more about the Moon than our planet’s interior. The deepest human-made core, the Kola Superdeep Borehole, reaches only 12.2 kilometers into our planet. That’s not even halfway through the lithosphere (the outermost layer)!

Also Read: The History of Earth

• The Triassic Period (The Beginning of the Dinosaurs)
• The Jurassic Period (The Age of the Dinosaurs)
• The Cretaceous Period (The End of the Dinosaurs)

All studies of the Earth’s inner and outer core come from seismic data. Another unknown is the periodic reversals of the Earth’s magnetic field. Even though scientists estimated the temperatures above, there is no way to go directly down to the core because of the temperature and pressure. However, the current state of knowledge is a result of numerous creative studies. Soon, one more may unravel a lot of mysteries.

Study of the layers of Earth

In the 1940s, scientists thought that its composition was no secret. They calculated the original balance of minerals on Earth and concluded that the missing iron and nickel must be in the core. However, only ten years later, the gravity measurements proved them wrong. The core must be heavier and denser than originally thought, though we don’t know which elements occur inside. However, that may soon be revealed.

The asteroid Psyche might be a naked iron core floating in space. The 2022 Psyche Mission may give us some answers on the structure of the Earth’s core. Moreover, it will help us compare other solid planets’ iron cores and show their most common properties.

More interesting articles for you:

• Why is the Moon moving away from us?
• The Ring of Fire: The most dangerous thing on Earth
• How Did The Himalayas Form And What Is Their Ultimate Future?

Anna Sekscinska

Senior Author at SOU. I am a science student, utterly fascinated by the world from atoms to galaxies. I learn something new every day and aspire to share my passion and knowledge, whether it’s related to our Earth or space conquest and the future of humanity. My hobbies include science fiction, swimming, reading, and makeup.