The near surface of the inner core may be changing. (USC Graphic/Edward Sotelo)
Earth’s inner core is less solid than previously thought
USC study reveals the inner core is undergoing structural transformation.
The surface of the Earth’s inner core may be changing, as shown by a new study from USC scientists that detected structural changes near the planet’s center, published Monday in Nature Geoscience.
The changes of the inner core have long been a topic of debate for scientists. However, most research has been focused on assessing rotation. John Vidale, Dean’s Professor of Earth Sciences at the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences and principal investigator of the study, said the researchers “didn’t set out to define the physical nature of the inner core.”