Scientists detect unexpected widespread structures near Earth's core

[Jim__]

From phys.org:

Earthquakes, seen as yellow stars here, send sound waves through the Earth. Seismograms, seen as blue triangles here, record the echoes as those waves travel along the core-mantle boundary, diffracting and bending around dense rock structures. New research from University of Maryland provides the first broad view of these structures, revealing them to be much more widespread than previously known. Credit: Doyeon Kim/University of Maryland

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University of Maryland geophysicists analyzed thousands of recordings of seismic waves, sound waves traveling through the Earth, to identify echoes from the boundary between Earth's molten core and the solid mantle layer above it. The echoes revealed more widespread, heterogenous structures—areas of unusually dense, hot rock—at the core-mantle boundary than previously known.

Scientists are unsure of the composition of these structures, and previous studies have provided only a limited view of them. Better understanding their shape and extent can help reveal the geologic processes happening deep inside Earth. This knowledge may provide clues to the workings of plate tectonics and the evolution of our planet.

The new research provides the first comprehensive view of the core-mantle boundary over a wide area with such detailed resolution. The study was published in the June 12, 2020, issue of the journal Science.

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[Squinch]

1. Of course! It's where Cthulu lives!

[soothsayer]

2. Shh, he lies dreaming, not alive and not dead

Don’t wake him.

[Squinch]

3. .

[Jamastiene]

4. I want to go to Colorado and watch that 3D graphic.

Far out. I wanna get stoned and watch that graphic.

Even if I didn't already love science, that 3D graphic is awesome. Props to the creator of it.

There is so much we don't know about the planet we inhabit. I love when we learn more.

[Jim__]

7. Yea, that graphic definitely caught my eye!

[patphil]

5. I don't like the look of that big red and yellow area.

It looks like a cancer deep in the Earth.

[grumpyduck]

6. Dammit, they just gave away the location of

Antifa headquarters!

[CentralMass]

8. The source of those special gravity waves that make you fall harder. ;-)

[grumpyduck]

9. LOL!

[SCantiGOP]

15. Antifa HQ is spread out

There’s a chapter in every bingo parlor.

[sdfernando]

10. Atlantis? /NT

Yeah, I know...wrong ocean....Pacificus???

[Thirties Child]

12. Mu

[cstanleytech]

14. Lemuria

[EarlG]

11. This can only mean one thing...

[2naSalit]

13. AAAAAhhhhh!!

I think you could be right!