Scientists Found 6 Weird Structures in Earth’s Center. They Could Wreak Havoc on Its Surface.
Researchers have utilized AI to identify six previously unknown seismic structures at the core-mantle boundary of the Earth. These irregularities, which scatter seismic waves, may provide new insights into deep-earth processes that influence surface phenomena like volcanic eruptions.
Why it matters
Understanding these deep-earth structures could improve the accuracy of seismic and volcanic activity forecasting, potentially saving lives.
Scientists Found Weird Structures in the Earth Rost-9D - Getty Images Here's what you'll learn when you read this story:
The core-mantle boundary (CMB) is where Earth's lower mantle meets its (almost) liquid core. Until now, scientists have detected mostly larger seismic waves in that area.
After a team of researchers trained an AI algorithm to sift through data and find faint seismic signals known as PKP precursors, the team found six previously unknown irregularities.
Because these deep irregularities scatter PKP precursors, which appear ahead of more intense waveforms, knowing where they are located can help with extreme weather forecasts.
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