Earth’s hot interior is composed of a solid inner core of iron and nickel that is surrounding by a fluid outer core. In 1996, scientists first speculated that the Earth’s inner core was rotating faster than the rest of the planet, but the idea was controversial. The rotation of the inner core is believed to be driven by circulating liquid caused by heat-induced convection currents in the outer core.
For the past decade, scientists have been further investigating the rotation of the Earth’s inner core by analyzing seismic waves that pass through the interior of the Earth. Earthquakes produce seismic waves.
Research published in Science in 2005 and more recently in the February 2011 issue of Nature Geoscience confirms that Earth’s inner core does indeed rotate faster than the rest of the planet. The 2011 estimates suggest that the extra spin may be on the order of 0.1 to 1 degree every million years, a much slower estimate than the values proposed in 1996 and 2005.
The hallmark of good science is that the results are repeatable. Now three scientific studies have confirmed the hypothesis that the Earth’s inner core rotates faster than the rest of the planet. Accurate geophysical information on the structure and movement of the Earth’s interior may help science to develop a more robust understanding of how the Earth generates a magnetic field that is essential to life on the planet.
Stefan Maus on measuring magnetic north
Stephen Giovannoni has discovered deepest yet underground life
I really wonder of what use this information shall be to us..
I doubt that it will have much influence on global research to be honest :(
There’s a saying, “Sex has some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.” Geologists don’t all study Earth for the practical results. They study it because it’s interesting.
We have no idea where this will lead us. What’s the basis for doubting it will be important, or not important?
I don’t know, Sebastian. This sounds like pretty fundamental information to me that will be used to generate more understanding of Earth’s magnetic field.
Our planet’s magnetic field doesn’t keep one orientation for all time … it’s always slowly moving. The location of magnetic north was in northern Canada but is now shifting toward Siberia. There’ve been some human changes as a result – for example, runways needing to be re-numbered: http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-01-tampa-airport-runways-renumbered-due.html
There’s nothing anyone can do about this slow shift in Earth’s magnetic field. But it’s something we humans interact with and have to adapt to, and, as such, it’s something scientists want to understand.
Deborah
what is good the faster or the slower,if the core is faster what happen to us
All forms of Science are relevant since everything on our planet and our galaxy are tied together as one working machine. The more we learn about even the most mundane the more we know about the world around us.
It is all tied together.
One won’t work without the other.
Think about this: If the solid core rotates faster in the same direction than the rest of the Earth, what is it’s impetus. What is pushing it? Man had dreamed of a perpetual motion machine for centuries and the axis rotation and orbital revolving of our Universe’s heavenly bodies is the closest things we have for examples. BUT, now we know that within our Earth, there is a center core that outruns the rest of the core and mantle. Where does it get its horespower? Could we be looking at the solution to our energy needs forever? Study it. Study it! STUDY IT.
Deanna rocks!
One of the four fundamental forces of physics, gravity, is definitely involved in the
rotational complexities of the Earth. If gravitation is really a push force, instead
of a pull force, by some postulations, the differing mass structures of a planet
can be affected differently. There are many other relational topics towards a
better understanding on the working of our planet which may even help, eventually,
in an understanding of the true mechanics of earthquakes.
Seismic waves are one type of measurable phenomena that allows realizing patterns of effects. Even more are telluric (earth currents) which are cyclical and follow certain pathways of least resistance, some narrow in continental structures, some broad in
oceans. They may be responsive to the 11.8 year solar cycle. Louis J. Lanzerotti and
Giovanni P. Gregori published “The Earth’s Electrical Environment” i 1986.
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=898&page=232
We have many examples of energy being “created” by the collapsing of either magnetic flux or matter itself. Using the “Right Hand” rule of rotation the solar systems were drawn into their systems of being. Can we use this law of the Universe to harnness motion and therefore energy. Lord of all Universal laws, show us the laws we can use to our benefit. Amen!
i think its time, its time to change our attitude, now for loving each other and ,and call respect in every diminsion our neighborhood , to all spirit spirit of mother earth,the spirit of the sun,the wind, the clouds,and the stars,the moon, the plants,the fire,the water in all nature
Thank you EarthSky community for all of the engaging comments on my first post. Your comments got me thinking about the classic scientific debate about which is better: pure science (pursuit of knowledge for its own sake) versus applied science (pursuit of knowledge for solving practical problems). While I’ve always been partial to spending my time working on applied science and sustainability issues, I don’t think one type of science is better than the other and I certainly have deep respect for the joy that can spring from doing pure science and gaining a better understanding of our world. Also, like many of you mentioned, who knows what practical aspects pure scientific research may address in the future.