(ORDO NEWS) — Seismologists from the Australian National University have discovered a previously unknown fifth layer in the Earth‘s structure.
Previously, it was believed that there are four such layers: the inner core, outer core, crust and mantle.
To better understand the structure of the planet, scientists analyzed data on about 200 earthquakes of magnitude 6 and above that occurred over the past 10 years.
They measured the speed at which seismic waves traveled through the interior of the Earth and identified a special layer. It has been called “the innermost core” and is a solid metal ball at the center of the inner core.
Hypotheses about the existence of such a formation appeared 20 years ago. But only now scientists have been able to prove it.
“This inner core is like a time capsule of the evolutionary history of the Earth,” said the author of the scientific work, Professor Hrvoe Tkalcic,
The structure is composed of iron and nickel. Its diameter is estimated at about 1350 km.
Scientists noted that if the core could be seen, then most likely it would glow like a star, since its temperature reaches 5500-6000 degrees Celsius – like on the surface of the Sun.
The authors of the study also emphasized that the study of the core allows us to reveal the ancient history of our planet.
Thus, the crystal structure of the innermost core differs from the outer layer. It can be assumed that at an early stage of the formation of the Earth, some kind of global event occurred that affected the structure.
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