The Earth's Core [Book Review]

Abstract

The study of the Earth's core might seem to be as academic as the study of a black hole or a pulsar. If it were not for the core, however, compasses would not work, we wouldn't know about plate tectonics and we probably wouldn't even have evolved to worry about such things. The core is a sloshing ball of molten metal, half the radius of the Earth, in which is suspended a sphere of solid iron. It is the source of the magnetic field which shields us from harmful emissions from outer space. The liquid outer core and solid inner core reveal their secrets through their effects on seismic waves, the magnetic field and the motions of the Earth.

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