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Corey S Powell's posts Post Back to profile
Corey S Powell

If you saw this headline, or one like it, you might reasonably have thought the world has gone mad. The inside of the Earth is spinning backwards?
*But that is not at all what the actual research says.*
[a short thread] #RealityCheck t.co/x64JnH7MSp

24 Jan 2023 at 15:35 | Open on mastodon.social
5 comments
Corey S Powell

Key point: Earth's core rotates at almost exactly the same rate as the rest of the planet. Did in the past, still does so now. It rotates at the same speed to within 0.001%!
But even the research paper is confusing on that point: #RealityCheck

nature.com/articles/s41561-022

Key point: Earth's core rotates at almost exactly the same rate as the rest of the planet. Did in the past, still does so now. It rotates at the same speed to within 0.001%!
But even the research paper is confusing on that point: #RealityCheck

nature.com/articles/s41561-022

Schematic of the inner structure of the Earth, showing the rotation of the core.
24 Jan 2023 at 17:41 | Open on mastodon.social
Corey S Powell

What's notable here is that Earth's inner core rotates *almost* the same as the surface, but not *exactly* the same. It may rotate a tiny bit faster or slower -- and that's not apocalyptic, but it sure is interesting. #Earth #Core
sciencenews.org/article/earth-

Illustration depicting the interior structure of the Earth.
24 Jan 2023 at 17:43 | Open on mastodon.social
Corey S Powell

The first hint that Earth's core goes its own way came in 1996. The core appeared to be turning 1 part in 100,000 faster than the surface. That small difference would case it to drift by 10s of kilometers a year -- a big effect by geophysical standards. #Core #Earth
nature.com/articles/382221a0.e

The first hint that Earth's core goes its own way came in 1996. The core appeared to be turning 1 part in 100,000 faster than the surface. That small difference would case it to drift by 10s of kilometers a year -- a big effect by geophysical standards. #Core #Earth
nature.com/articles/382221a0.e

Graphical depiction of seismic waves passing through the mantle and core of the Earth.
24 Jan 2023 at 17:44 | Open on mastodon.social
Corey S Powell

Earth's inner core is solid, but the outer core is liquid. That means the inner core is suspended in liquid, like the insides of a chocolate-covered cherry, leaving it weirdly free to move around. #Core #BeFree

Map of Earth's interior, showing the solid inner core suspended within the liquid outer core.
Chocolate covered cherries, full of delicious liquid and a cherry in the middle.
24 Jan 2023 at 17:46 | Open on mastodon.social
Corey S Powell

Why would Earth's core spin (slightly!) faster or slower than the surface? 1) the gravity of the mantle is pulling on it. 2) magnetic fields from the outer core grab onto it. If we can measure these effects, we learn a lot about the geomagnetic field that keeps us all safe. #Core #Earth

nature.com/articles/s41561-022

Why would Earth's core spin (slightly!) faster or slower than the surface? 1) the gravity of the mantle is pulling on it. 2) magnetic fields from the outer core grab onto it. If we can measure these effects, we learn a lot about the geomagnetic field that keeps us all safe. #Core #Earth

nature.com/articles/s41561-022

Graphical depiction of Earth's magnetic field deflecting the solar wind in space.
24 Jan 2023 at 17:48 | Open on mastodon.social
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