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How certain are we (current science) that our conclusion regarding the composition / architecture / structure of the inner /deepest part of the planet? From wh
by ThinkBeat 4y ago
How certain are we (current science) that our conclusion regarding
the composition / architecture / structure of the inner /deepest part
of the planet?
From what I have read, we have not had any probes too far into the earth.
I remember someone saying that we know more about space than we do
about the earth.
I dont know if I should have listened to the guy.
I do understand that the article references distributed readings over
long timespans of seismic data that allows scientists to establish
the current view.
- wongarsu 4y agoWe have a better idea than at any time before. But we only really know about large-scale structures, and have well-justified guesses at the materials involved. The deepest borehole we ever made is only about 10% deeper than the Mariana Trench, not even close to getting through the crust. Most of our data is either from seismic measurements, which are useful because shockwaves travel at different rates through different materials and can be reflected at material boundaries, or from neutrino measurements.
- peter303 4y agoSeismic waves and ultra high pressure mineral lab experiments. Seismic waves suffers from antenna limitation artifacts with the 70% ocean barely instrumented. A French group launches torpedo seismometers for months at a time to fill in gaps.