1. The Earth's Core: How Does It Work? Perspectives in Science. Number 1.
- Author
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Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, DC.
- Abstract
Various research studies designed to enhance knowledge about the earth's core are discussed. Areas addressed include: (1) the discovery of the earth's core; (2) experimental approaches used in studying the earth's core (including shock-wave experiments and experiments at high static pressures), the search for the core's light elements, the possible presence of potassium in the core, and use of the diamond cell for investigating the core; (3) seismic explorations of the core; (4) inhomogeneities at the core-mantle boundary; (5) terrestrial magnetism and the outer core; and (6) theories of inner-earth structure from the perspective of solar system history. Studies of the earth's mantle which may provide additional information about the earth's core are also discussed. They include laboratory experiments with mantle materials and modeling of mantle structure at the Carnegie Institution's Department of Terrestrial Magnetism. It is pointed out that although many questions about the earth's core are still unanswered, the promise of new research tools is vast. Favored by advances in computer modeling and in techniques for experiments at very high pressure, today's scientists seem well-positioned to address these questions about the deep earth. (JN)
- Published
- 1984