Image Credit: shutterstock/Johan Swanepoel
Oh good, because it’s not quite hot enough already.
At the core of our Earth is a magnetic field that protects our planet while making it habitable by stopping harmful high-energy elements from space. With the Earth’s core being 1,800 miles deep, it is not the easiest piece of the planet to study. One thing that is known, however, is that the Earth’s core is extremely hot. Reaching temperatures as high as 9,000 degrees Fahrenheit, it is not a surprise to assume that the core is responsible for much of the heat that volcanoes produce.
Volcanic activity is the main cooling mechanism of the planet. Some of the volcanic activity might be occurring due to the mantle plumes that have been transferring heat from the core. There has been a debate for a long time as to whether or not the core and mantle exchange any physical material during these exchanges.
Recent findings are suggesting that some of the Earth’s core has been leaking material into the mantle plumes for billions of years. With their understanding that the core is dominated by iron and nickel together with elements tungsten, platinum, and gold that dissolve into its iron-nickel alloy, scientists felt that studying these chemical tracers of core material could help provide some answers.
Changes in the mantle over Earth’s lifetime as well as changes in older rocks compared to more modern rocks indicated that tungsten has been leaking from the core. Increase in oxygen concentration at the core-mantle boundary could be the cause for the tungsten leaking out.
The core has been entirely liquid metal since studies began. But, over time, it has been cooling and solidifying. The magnetic field has something to do with it, but it is extremely complex. Studies will continue to be conducted to see the full connection between all the layers of our Earth.
