Rare Shift Detected Deep Within Earth’s Core-Mantle Boundary

A mysterious shift deep within Earth’s interior has scientists intrigued. Data from satellites reveal an unusual movement near the boundary between Earth’s core and mantle, suggesting dramatic changes occurred beneath the planet’s surface between 2006 and 2008.

The discovery emerged during a recent analysis of data from the US–German Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites, which operated from 2002 to 2017. The twin satellites measured tiny variations in Earth’s gravitational field by monitoring changes in the distance between them as they orbited the planet.

While GRACE is typically used to track water and ice movements, researchers noticed an unexplained signal peaking around 2007 off Africa’s Atlantic coast. Surface phenomena could not account for this anomaly.

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Experts propose that a transformation in the mineral perovskite, found deep in mantle rocks, may be responsible. Under extreme pressure, perovskite can alter its structure, increasing rock density. This change could have triggered a ripple effect, causing the core–mantle boundary to deform by roughly 10 centimetres.

The shift may also be linked to magnetic anomalies recorded in the same region during 2007, hinting at complex interactions between Earth’s layers. Understanding such events is crucial, as movements at the core-mantle boundary influence earthquakes, magnetic fields, and other planetary processes.

The study, published in Geophysical Research Letters, sheds new light on the dynamic nature of Earth’s deep interior and underscores the value of long-term satellite observations in revealing hidden planetary processes.