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Scientists predict a possible stoppage of the rotation of the Earth's inner core in the next 15 years, writes Nature.
At the center of our planet is a hot core made of nickel and iron, with a radius of 1200-1300 km. This core is surrounded by a liquid outer ring and a mantle that extends from a depth of 30 km to 2900 km below the Earth's surface. It has been noted that the inner core has been rotating from west to east since the 1970s, and in 2009-2010 its rotation stopped. Now the core is moving in the opposite direction to the rotation of the Earth's surface.
These changes in the direction of rotation may be related to the “geodynamo” process, which affects the formation of the Earth’s magnetic field. The “geodynamo” is a process in which the rotation of the liquid outer core and heat exchange contribute to the emergence of the magnetic field. According to scientists, by 2040 the inner core may stop completely, and then resume rotation in the same direction as the Earth.
Recent studies by scientists from the United States and China indicate that the rotation of the inner core has been slowing down since the early 1990s. They also recorded a change in the shape of this core, which may indicate complex physical processes that affect the dynamics of the Earth. These facts indicate the importance of further research into the internal structure of the planet and its influence on global geophysical processes.
Scientists predict the Earth's inner core will stop rotating appeared first on Curiosity.
