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Earth's Core Spins Faster than Earth

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the round-and-round dept.

Dreamwalkerofyore writes "The New York Times has an article on a recent affirmation that the earth's core rotates faster than the earth proper. From the article: 'Confirming assertions first made in 1996, a team of geophysicists are presenting data in the journal Science today showing that the earth's inner core... spins faster than the rest of the planet. Over a period of 700 to 1,200 years, the inner core appears to make one full extra spin. That extra spin could give scientists information about how the earth generates its magnetic field.'"

16 of 309 comments (clear)

  1. Give my regards to the Earth's core... by kzinti · · Score: 5, Funny

    So I'm just wondering: does this delta-omega have anything to do with the fact that the Earth's magnetic field reverses itself every 200,000 years or so? Please begin rampant conjecture and wild speculation. Extra credit to anyone who can credibly bring Roswell or right-wing conspiracies into the discussion. Fnord.

    1. Re:Give my regards to the Earth's core... by aussie_a · · Score: 5, Interesting
      So I'm just wondering: does this delta-omega have anything to do with the fact that the Earth's magnetic field reverses itself every 200,000 years or so?

      Well, according to Wikipedia why the reversal happens isn't well understood, so it very well could be. However there are some hints that this is the case in the Geomagnetic excursion page:
      The dominant theory is that they are an inherent aspect of the dynamo processes that maintain the Earth's magnetic field. In computer simulations, it is observed that magnetic field lines can sometimes become tangled and disorganized through the chaotic motions of liquid metal in the Earth's core
      I'd suggest looking for more authorative sources if you're truly interested.

      Please begin rampant conjecture and wild speculation.

      Don't mind if I do. From Geomagnetic reversal at wikipedia:
      homo erectus and their ancestors certainly survived many previous reversals. There is no uncontested evidence that a magnetic field reversal has ever caused any biological extinctions.
      Makes me wonder how geomagnetic reversals coincide with the speciation and evolution of our ancestors (or any animals). The extra radiation might not have killed them, but it certainly could have mixed things up, create higher then normal mutation rates. The last one was 780,000 years ago. Homo sapiens sapiens hasn't ever existed while there's been a geomagnetic reversal. It could be that by the time we came around, the mutations had died down to a normal rate.
    2. Re:Give my regards to the Earth's core... by deop4s · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Probably something - what will be interesting is if someone can figure out not only the speed, but also the direction of the spin. There's no guarantee that the inner core is actually spinning along the same axis as the mantle/crust. Seems possible that an offset of a few minutes between the axes of rotation might explain why the magnetic poles are not exactly matched with the rotation axis of the earth.

    3. Re:Give my regards to the Earth's core... by Smidge204 · · Score: 5, Funny

      Dear kzinti;

      Current scientific theories on this subject are, at best, incomplete. I would like to offer an equally plausible alternative theory; Intelligent Spinning.

      The Intelligent Spinner carefully regulates the speed at which the Earth's inner core rotates relative to the crust, thus regulating with great accuracy the strength and shape of the Earth's protective magnetic shield. Since this shield is so vital to life on this planet, it is inconceivable that it exists merely by chance. Therefore, we can conclude that the Intelligent Spinner was put in place by the Intelligent Designer, as one of the many mechanisms to protect His creation.

      Extrapolating from this scenario, we arrive at the conclusion that the magnetic field reversal is all part of the Intelligent Designer's plan. Indeed, so-called "scientific" estimates have failed to predict another reversal. The Science-agenda advocates would have you believe that such reversals occur every 200,000 years, however in the same breath they also claim it has been over 780,000 years since the previous one. It is apparent that these scientists are simply making excuses for their flawed theories. Indeed, as we all know the Earth is only about 6,000 years old so the very notion of a 200,000 year cycle is absurd! My Intelligent Spinner theory predicts that the magnetic poles has (and will) weaken and eventually flip whenever the Intelligent Designer deems the time is right.

      As you can see, my alternative theory explains the observed natural phenomena just as well as -- indeed, better than -- the current "scientific" theories of geology. I therefore assert that my theory is at least a viable alternative and feel that equal time should be given to its teaching in the classroom.

      Thank you for your time;
      =Smidge=

    4. Re:Give my regards to the Earth's core... by Mudcathi · · Score: 5, Funny
      Makes me wonder how geomagnetic reversals coincide with the speciation and evolution of our ancestors (or any animals).

      I imagine that the mix up caused confused ducks to fly to Alaska for the winter, instead of Florida... and so if a reversal were to occur today, with the little magnetic compasses in our grandparent's pristine 1972 Chevy Impalas pointing 180 degrees in the wrong direction, we'll find their frozen carcasses somewhere in the Yukon around late November, surrounded by baffled ducks.

      --

      "He who throws mud, loses ground." - proverb

    5. Re:Give my regards to the Earth's core... by Beale · · Score: 5, Funny

      This is just one example of the work of the Flying Spaghetti Monster in his Harlem Globetrotter aspect.

      May we be forever touched by his noodly appendage.

    6. Re:Give my regards to the Earth's core... by Smidge204 · · Score: 5, Funny

      May we be forever touched by his noodly appendage.

      RAmen.

      =Smidge=

  2. Easily Explained by Ann+Elk · · Score: 5, Funny

    The core spins faster because the bodies of the US founding fathers are spinning in their graves at such high RPM.

  3. Complete? by Boronx · · Score: 5, Funny

    Whoah, it looks like it's going to complete one full spin in the next decade, that's going to make Y2K look like a walk in the park.

    --
    Play Command HQ online
    1. Re:Complete? by neverutterwhen · · Score: 5, Funny

      Y2K was a walk in the park.

      --
      My appreciation of Douglas Adams is far deeper than yours.
  4. Hmmm... by gowen · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Given that the Earth's rotation is slowing down, isn't it immediately apparent that the liquid core must spin faster than the outside. It's just basic fluid dynamics. If apply a torque to the outside of a fluid filled region, the middle of that region will feel the effect last.

    --
    Athletic Scholarships to universities make as much sense as academic scholarships to sports teams.
  5. If the core ever stops spinning by strannik · · Score: 5, Funny

    We'll need to do core dump analysis.

  6. Will the Earth cease to have magnetic poles? by ReformedExCon · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If the core slows down due to friction with the mantle, will there be an effect on the magnetic field surrounding the Earth? Without the magnetic field, my understanding is that the Van Allen radiation belt will also not exist, and that in turn would expose the Earth to the full-on radiation of the Sun.

    I'm no scientist, of course. But I wonder what the implications of the spinning core means. Also, how long would it take to stop spinning, or to develop a wobble?

    There have been a slew of large earthquakes around the world lately. Could it be related?

    --
    Jesus saved me from my past. He can save you as well.
  7. Re:Military applications by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If we could cheaply generate fields that strong, we would not need nuclear power plants, we could generate all the energy we need using induction.

  8. And on the sixth day.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    God overclocked the core, and saw that it was good.

  9. Has a cure by La+Gris · · Score: 5, Funny

    Everyone head to the east with their car and go as fast as possible.

    And everyone around the world, press the breaks all at once, while riding to the east.

    That may be enough to accelerate the Earth's rotation :)

    --
    Léa Gris