Earth’s molten core suddenly reversed direction — and scientists don’t know why
Earth’s molten iron core unexpectedly reversed direction beneath the Pacific, revealing a dramatic change in the hidden engine that creates our planet’s magnetic field. Satellite data suggest the surge is already weakening, raising the possibility that the deep-Earth upheaval is part of a mysterious natural cycle.
Scientists have discovered that a large flow of molten material deep beneath the Pacific Ocean has suddenly reversed direction, a development that has left researchers puzzled. The molten iron in Earth's outer core, which lies around 2200 km below the surface, typically flows westward and helps generate the planet's geomagnetic field.
However, in 2010, a significant region of molten material beneath the Pacific began moving eastward instead of continuing its weaker westward flow. Despite extensive research, the cause of this reversal remains unknown. Utilizing data from ESA satellites, including ESA's Swarm and CryoSat missions, along with observations from Germany's CHAMP mission and the Ørsted mission, researchers were able to study the event in greater detail.
Published in the Journal of Studies of Earth's Deep Interior, the study suggests that the sudden change beneath the Pacific indicates that the system can change much more quickly than previously thought, offering new insights into the turbulent motions responsible for producing Earth's magnetic field.
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