3 ms·
> The inner core is usually thought to be shaped like a ball, but its edges may actually have deformed by 100m or more in height in places, according to Prof Jo
by ryao 2y ago
> The inner core is usually thought to be shaped like a ball, but its edges may actually have deformed by 100m or more in height in places, according to Prof John Vidale who led the research.
Is this not within the margin of error for our understanding of the boundary?
It would not surprise me if the boundary is a place where there is no clear difference between solid and liquid, such that the solid edges of the core are always transient. Phase change diagrams in chemistry show regions where matter is simultaneously a liquid and a solid at temperatures and pressures that do not occur in daily life. Presumably, under immense pressure and temperature, the core's boundary would be a place where this occurs.
I am not an expert in physics, so take what I say here with a grain of salt.
- lupusreal 2y agoIt makes some intuitive sense to me that the boundary between the solid(ish) mantle and the liquid outer core would be fuzzy, while the boundary between the liquid outer core and the solid inner core would be rather crisp. Not sure how to explain why I think of it that way, it just seems like the way it should work for some reason.
- marcosdumay 2y agoA high enough pressure makes the transition between gases, liquids, and solids all very fuzzy. I do think Earth is not large enough for that, but it's certainly not as crisp as you would assume if you only know how matter behaves at the surface.