![]() ![]() The variation in rotation time between the inner core and the rest of Earth is very minor. ![]() Over the years, some researchers have found that the core rotates slightly faster than the mantle and crust, a condition called “super rotation.” But studies have not returned consistent numbers, with the first study to observe differential core rotation estimating that the inner core rotates up to one degree faster per year than the rest of the planet others found an annual speedup of just tiny fractions of a degree. Because of this liquid cocoon, the “ball bearing” may not spin at the same rate as the rest of the planet. The inner core sits suspended like a ball bearing in the molten-metal ocean of the outer core. The slowdown could change how rapidly the entire planet spins, as well as influence how the core evolves with time.įor the new study, published in the journal Nature Geoscience, scientists used a database of earthquakes to probe the behavior of Earth’s solid inner core over time. The spin of Earth’s inner core may have slowed, with the heart of the planet now rotating at a slightly more sluggish clip than the layers above, new research finds. ![]()
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