Scientists: The Earth's Inner Core is Changing Shape

Seismic waves penetrating deep into the Earth indicate that the shell of the inner core of this planet is changing shape as it moves and rotates. According to a study published on Monday, February 11, in the journal 'Nature,' seismic waves sent to the Earth's inner core, at depths of over five thousand kilometers, show that the inner core has undergone minor changes after a rotational return to its previous position. These changes suggest that the surface of the inner core, despite its strength, is also capable of short-term alteration. John Vidale, the director of this research and a seismology expert at the University of Dornsife in Southern California, states that the likely low influence of the outer core flow on the outer membrane of the inner core has caused this terrestrial change. The outer core of the Earth consists of molten metals, primarily iron and nickel, surrounding the solid inner core. The molten flow of the outer core solidifies by about one millimeter each year, adding to the volume of the inner core, which is mainly composed of iron and nickel. Scientists have cited the softness of the Earth's inner core as a possible reason for its recent changes. Previous research indicates that the rotation rhythm of the Earth's inner core is variable and has been slowing down for about the last 15 years. Research on the Earth's inner core began in the 1990s, approximately thirty years ago.