by Scientists have long been puzzled by a thin layer in the deep planet known as the E prime layer, which is just over a few hundred kilometers thick. However, a recent study conducted by an international team of researchers, including scientists from Arizona State University, has shed light on the origin of this layer.
The research, published in Nature Geoscience, reveals that water from the Earth’s surface can penetrate deep into the planet, altering the composition of the outermost region of the metallic liquid core and creating a distinct, thin layer. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of Earth’s internal processes and suggests a more extensive global water cycle than previously recognized.
Over billions of years, surface water has been transported deep into the Earth by descending tectonic plates. When it reaches the core-mantle boundary, approximately 1,800 miles below the surface, the water triggers a profound chemical interaction, resulting in a hydrogen-rich, silicon-depleted layer in the topmost outer core region. This thin film-like structure modifies the liquid metallic layer and generates silica crystals that rise and integrate into the mantle.
High-pressure experiments conducted by the research team demonstrated that subducted water chemically reacts with core materials, leading to the formation of the hydrogen-rich layer and the integration of silica into the mantle. This altered layer is predicted to be less dense and have reduced seismic velocities, aligning with anomalous characteristics observed by seismologists.
Previously, it was believed that material exchange between Earth’s core and mantle was minimal. However, this study suggests that the exchange is far more dynamic than previously thought, indicating substantial material exchange and a more complex core-mantle interaction.
The discovery of the penetration of surface water into the Earth’s core and the subsequent chemical reactions has important implications for the geochemical cycles that connect the surface-water cycle with the deep metallic core. It highlights the interconnectedness of Earth’s different layers and processes.
The study utilized advanced experimental techniques at the Advanced Photon Source of Argonne National Lab and PETRA III of Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron in Germany to replicate the extreme conditions at the core-mantle boundary. The team from Arizona State University, led by Professor Dan Shim, conducted high-pressure experiments, while computational simulations were performed by Assistant Professor Joseph O’Rourke to better understand the formation and persistence of the altered layer.
This research significantly advances our understanding of Earth’s internal dynamics and adds new insights into the global water cycle. By unraveling the mysteries of the deep planet, scientists are uncovering the complex processes that shape our world.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
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