Scientists at Arizona State University have made a groundbreaking discovery about the inner workings of the Earth. According to a new study, water is slowly making its way from the surface down to the core of the planet, triggering a chemical reaction and forming a new layer between the outer core and the outer mantle.
The journey of the water is not a simple one, as it drips down descending tectonic plates before ultimately reaching the core after a 2,900 kilometer journey. Over billions of years, this process has led to the formation of a new layer that is “few hundred kilometers thick,” as described by the researchers.
Dr. Dan Shim, co-author of the study, explained the significance of the discovery, stating, “For years, it has been believed that material exchange between Earth’s core and mantle is small. Yet, our recent high-pressure experiments reveal a different story.” The water, upon reaching the core-mantle boundary, reacts with silicon in the core, forming silica. This points to a far more dynamic core-mantle interaction, suggesting substantial material exchange.
The implications of this discovery are far-reaching, with the ASU release stating, “This finding advances our understanding of Earth’s internal processes, suggesting a more extensive global water cycle than previously recognized.” The altered layer of the core has profound implications for the geochemical cycles that connect the surface-water cycle with the deep metallic core.
This discovery sheds new light on the inner workings of our planet and has the potential to change our understanding of Earth’s global water cycle. As scientists continue to unravel the mysteries of the planet’s interior, new insights into the Earth’s complex and dynamic processes are sure to emerge.