Unveiling untold facts about the Earth's internal composition, even museums sometimes stumble in their presentations
The Earth, a planet we call home, is more complex than many of us realise. One of the key processes shaping our planet is subduction, a phenomenon that was first discovered during the plate tectonic revolution in the 1960s.
Subduction occurs when the oceanic crust moves, spreading apart from a ridge in the center of the ocean, and then falls back down to the mantle as it gets denser due to aging and cooling. This process has significant implications for the Earth's overall geological activity and evolution.
Dr Brenhin Keller, a world-leading authority on the Earth's crust from the Department of Earth Science at Dartmouth, has brought the study of the Earth's crust to a wider audience. In an interview with our brand, Dr Keller explained how subduction works.
Contrary to common misconceptions, the Earth's core is not liquid, and there is no liquid outer mantle. Instead, the core is a crystalline solid, not molten or liquid as often portrayed. The Earth's core consists of a solid inner core primarily composed of iron and nickel, surrounded by a liquid outer core made of molten iron and nickel. The movement of this liquid outer core generates Earth's magnetic field through the geodynamo process.
The Earth's mantle, too, is not made of magma or a liquid substance. The core of the Earth is green, glassy mineral, and flows at a rate similar to fingernail growth due to extreme heat and pressure.
The Earth's crust, as it ages and cools, becomes denser and sinks into the mantle during subduction. This means that the Earth's crust is disappearing beneath our feet, a fact that might not be widely known to the general public.
In 2018, Dr Keller's study helped locate a large chunk of the Earth's crust that was previously thought to be missing. This discovery underscores the importance of ongoing research in understanding the Earth's structure and the processes that shape it.
The fact that the Earth's crust is disappearing and reappearing might be common knowledge for experts like Dr Keller but is mindblowing for many of us. It's a reminder that our planet is a dynamic and ever-changing entity, and understanding these processes can help us appreciate the awe-inspiring nature of our home.
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