{"id":2451,"date":"2023-08-09T07:31:49","date_gmt":"2023-08-09T07:31:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/horizon.peachpuff-wolverine-566518.hostingersite.com\/?p=2451"},"modified":"2023-08-09T07:31:49","modified_gmt":"2023-08-09T07:31:49","slug":"earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/","title":{"rendered":"Earth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the centre of Earth is a vast ball of metal, the planet\u2019s core. While unreachable without the help of Jules Verne, it can be studied and plays a vital role for the world.<\/p>\n

The iron-nickel interior generates a magnetic field that protects the planet from harmful radiation and allows life to flourish. Exactly how this magnetic field is created, and whether it is the same on other worlds, are open questions.<\/p>\n

Iron oceans<\/strong><\/p>\n

New research is revealing more about planetary cores and magnetic fields than ever before \u2013 and hinting at changes that take place 3\u00a0000 kilometres under people\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n

Earth has a solid inner core about 1 200 km across, surrounded by a liquid iron outer core that extends another 2\u00a0200 km. In the outer core, as the liquid metal circulates it generates a magnetic field.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019re trying to understand the dynamics of the big iron oceans that are present in planets like Earth,\u2019 said Michael Le Bars of the French National Centre for Scientific Research, or CNRS. \u2018The flow in there is responsible for the magnetic field of the planets. And this magnetic field is one of the key ingredients for life.\u2019<\/p>\n

Le Bars studied these matters as part of a European project that received EU funding to spur advances in the field including through laboratory experiments. Called\u00a0FLUDYCO<\/a>, the initiative ran from mid-2016 until end-2021.<\/p>\n

In labs, Le Bars and his team injected dye into a water-filled rubber ball and then rotated it to deform the sphere, simulating tidal distortions in Earth\u2019s core.<\/p>\n

They also popped a balloon containing a liquid metal called Galinstan inside water to simulate the formation of a planetary core. Finally, the researchers tracked the interaction of lower and higher density water to study the convection and turbulence of an outer core.<\/p>\n

The team found that there were three ways to drive circulation inside a liquid iron core.<\/p>\n

\"Researchers<\/p>\n

Researchers from the FLUDYCO project used lab models to simulate the flows in planetary cores. \u00a9 T. Le Reun & M. Le Bars (IRPHE) and G. Hennenfent (Le Chromophore)<\/span><\/p>\n

Worldly ways<\/strong><\/p>\n

The first was by metallic iron swirling in the outer core. This process, called convection, results from the cooling and solidifying of the planet\u2019s core.<\/p>\n

Another method was tidal forces caused by the gravitational push and pull of a nearby object \u2013 perhaps like the magnetic moon\u00a0Ganymede<\/a>, which orbits Jupiter and is\u00a0named<\/a>\u00a0after a Trojan prince in Greek mythology.<\/p>\n

The third involved crystals of solidified iron forming in the liquid outer core and driving the circulation, a reverse of the solidification happening in Earth\u2019s core.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s snowing iron ice crystals towards the inside and mixing the fluid,\u2019 Le Bars, Marseille-based director of research at CNRS, said of the third method. \u2018It\u2019s a very strange process.\u2019<\/p>\n

What remains unclear is exactly which worlds would have which method to produce their metallic fields or whether other processes might be involved for gas giants like Jupiter.<\/p>\n

\u2018Each planet seems to be different,\u2019 said Le Bars. \u2018We don\u2019t know if Ganymede\u2019s core is convecting or snowing.\u2019<\/p>\n

A European spacecraft launched in April 2023 and due to reach Jupiter in 2031 will orbit Ganymede and could produce revelations about its core, perhaps helping to ascertain how worlds like this generate a magnetic field.<\/p>\n

In Earth\u2019s solar system, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune also have substantial magnetic fields.<\/p>\n

Orbit observation<\/strong><\/p>\n

Another way to investigate planetary cores is to make indirect measurements of them.<\/p>\n

An EU-funded project called\u00a0CoreSat<\/a>\u00a0has been doing this from orbit by using three European Space Agency satellites that study changes in Earth\u2019s magnetic field.<\/p>\n

The initiative, due to wrap up in August 2023 after five and a half years, is led by Chris Finlay of the National Space Institute at the Technical University of Denmark near Copenhagen.<\/p>\n

Earth\u2019s magnetic field can strengthen and weaken, altering its structure including the locations of the magnetic poles by tens of kilometres a year, or sometimes even\u00a0flip in polarity entirely<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 something thought to happen every few 100\u00a0000 years or so.<\/p>\n

Finlay says the satellites are showing how the magnetic field is changing.<\/p>\n

Using data from the satellites, Finlay and his colleagues have been seeking a clearer picture of the magnetic field at the boundary between Earth\u2019s lower mantle and the outer core.<\/p>\n

Magnetic signal<\/strong><\/p>\n

A major difficulty has been picking out the magnetic field signal from the core among the other magnetic fields produced at and above Earth\u2019s surface.<\/p>\n

One technique has been to monitor Earth\u2019s upper atmosphere and its aurora at the poles and identify a cleaner signature of changes in the core\u2019s magnetic field.<\/p>\n

The goal is to have systems that can predict how the magnetic field is going to change over the coming decades, according to Finlay.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s been challenging,\u2019 he said. \u2018We\u2019d like to do something like in weather forecasting, where they have models of the general circulation of the atmosphere and make forecasts.\u2019<\/p>\n

Studying changes in the core\u2019s magnetic field is important for understanding the habitability of Earth and other worlds.<\/p>\n

Nowhere are these changes more noticeable than in the South Atlantic region.<\/p>\n

Underground hurricanes<\/strong><\/p>\n

Off the coast of South America, Earth\u2019s magnetic field weakens more than 50%.<\/p>\n

While the cause of this phenomenon known as the South Atlantic Anomaly is unknown, projects like CoreSat are providing additional information.<\/p>\n

\u2018We\u2019ve been able to see more details,\u2019 Finlay said. \u2018We\u2019re still working on it.\u2019<\/p>\n

It appears that, down at the boundary of the core and mantle underneath the anomaly, the magnetic field is reversed.<\/p>\n

That could be a sign of weather-like systems in the outer core caused by temperature differences and the rotation of the planet.<\/p>\n

\u2018In the same way you get cyclones and hurricanes in the atmosphere, we also have that happening in Earth\u2019s core,\u2019 said Finlay. \u2018This organises the convections into large circulations in the outer core.\u2019<\/p>\n

That said, the swirling inside Earth occurs at much slower speeds \u2013 20 km a year compared with wind velocities of up to 250 km an hour in hurricanes.<\/p>\n

Even with the advances in research, there is much still to learn about planetary interiors and the implications are broad.<\/p>\n

\u2018Today we are looking at other planets to find life on them,\u2019 said Le Bars of CNRS. \u2018To have life, you need a magnetic field to protect the planet.\u2019<\/p>\n

Research in this article was funded by the EU via the European Research Council (ERC). If you liked this article, please consider sharing it on social media.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At the centre of Earth is a vast ball of metal, the planet\u2019s core. While unreachable without the help of Jules Verne, it can be studied and plays a vital role for the world. The iron-nickel interior generates a magnetic field that protects the planet from harmful radiation and allows life to flourish. Exactly how … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":298,"featured_media":2452,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"generate_page_header":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2451","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-space"],"yoast_head":"\nEarth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified - Horizon Magazine Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Earth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"At the centre of Earth is a vast ball of metal, the planet\u2019s core. While unreachable without the help of Jules Verne, it can be studied and plays a vital role for the world. The iron-nickel interior generates a magnetic field that protects the planet from harmful radiation and allows life to flourish. Exactly how ... Read more\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Horizon Magazine Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:author\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/horizon.magazine.eu\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-08-09T07:31:49+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/THE_FO1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"565\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Horizon Magazine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/HorizonMagEU\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Horizon Magazine\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Horizon Magazine\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8f23522ba58f477f04dd574e1034f679\"},\"headline\":\"Earth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-09T07:31:49+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1101,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/THE_FO1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Space\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"copyrightYear\":\"2023\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/\",\"name\":\"Earth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified - Horizon Magazine Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/THE_FO1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-08-09T07:31:49+00:00\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/THE_FO1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2023\\\/08\\\/THE_FO1.jpg\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":565,\"caption\":\"Earth\u2019s magnetic field extends from the planet\u2019s core and has a vast impact on everyday life. \u00a9 ESA\\\/ATG medialab\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/2451\\\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Earth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/\",\"name\":\"Horizon Magazine Blog\",\"description\":\"The EU Research & Innovation Magazine\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Horizon Magazine Blog\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/eu-logo.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/04\\\/eu-logo.jpg\",\"width\":601,\"height\":283,\"caption\":\"Horizon Magazine Blog\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8f23522ba58f477f04dd574e1034f679\",\"name\":\"Horizon Magazine\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Horizon Magazine\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/horizon.magazine.eu\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/HorizonMagEU\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/scienceblog.com\\\/horizon\\\/author\\\/horizonmagazine\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Earth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified - Horizon Magazine Blog","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Earth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified","og_description":"At the centre of Earth is a vast ball of metal, the planet\u2019s core. While unreachable without the help of Jules Verne, it can be studied and plays a vital role for the world. The iron-nickel interior generates a magnetic field that protects the planet from harmful radiation and allows life to flourish. Exactly how ... Read more","og_url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/","og_site_name":"Horizon Magazine Blog","article_author":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/horizon.magazine.eu","article_published_time":"2023-08-09T07:31:49+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1000,"height":565,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/THE_FO1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Horizon Magazine","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@https:\/\/twitter.com\/HorizonMagEU","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Horizon Magazine","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/"},"author":{"name":"Horizon Magazine","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/person\/8f23522ba58f477f04dd574e1034f679"},"headline":"Earth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified","datePublished":"2023-08-09T07:31:49+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/"},"wordCount":1101,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/THE_FO1.jpg","articleSection":["Space"],"inLanguage":"en-US","copyrightYear":"2023","copyrightHolder":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/#organization"}},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/","name":"Earth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified - Horizon Magazine Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/THE_FO1.jpg","datePublished":"2023-08-09T07:31:49+00:00","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/THE_FO1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/THE_FO1.jpg","width":1000,"height":565,"caption":"Earth\u2019s magnetic field extends from the planet\u2019s core and has a vast impact on everyday life. \u00a9 ESA\/ATG medialab"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2451\/earths-core-replete-with-oceans-and-cyclones-is-being-demystified\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Earth\u2019s core, replete with oceans and cyclones, is being demystified"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#website","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/","name":"Horizon Magazine Blog","description":"The EU Research & Innovation Magazine","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#organization","name":"Horizon Magazine Blog","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/eu-logo.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/04\/eu-logo.jpg","width":601,"height":283,"caption":"Horizon Magazine Blog"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/#\/schema\/person\/8f23522ba58f477f04dd574e1034f679","name":"Horizon Magazine","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/407bd816be829798850d5e7f646c4137f70c86c6af6c761b67a6ea80c364ffa4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Horizon Magazine"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/horizon.magazine.eu","https:\/\/x.com\/https:\/\/twitter.com\/HorizonMagEU"],"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/author\/horizonmagazine\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/08\/THE_FO1.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pgtNKV-Dx","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1052,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/1052\/is-there-life-on-super-earths-the-answer-could-lie-in-their-cores\/","url_meta":{"origin":2451,"position":0},"title":"Is there life on super-Earths? The answer could lie in their cores","author":"Anthony King","date":"November 12, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Rocky planets larger than our own, so-called super-Earths, are surprisingly abundant in our Galaxy, and stand as the most likely planets to be habitable. Getting a better idea of their interior structures will help predict whether different planets are able to generate magnetic fields \u2013 thought to be conducive for\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space"","block_context":{"text":"Space","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/space\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The habitability of a super-Earth could be related to its having a magnetic field. Image credit - ESA\/Hubble, M. Kornmesser, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Artist\u2019s impression of super-Earth K2-18 b","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/11\/1851px-Esa-hubble-k2-18a_impression.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/11\/1851px-Esa-hubble-k2-18a_impression.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/11\/1851px-Esa-hubble-k2-18a_impression.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/11\/1851px-Esa-hubble-k2-18a_impression.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/11\/1851px-Esa-hubble-k2-18a_impression.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2019\/11\/1851px-Esa-hubble-k2-18a_impression.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":590,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/590\/earths-magnetic-poles-could-start-to-flip-what-happens-then\/","url_meta":{"origin":2451,"position":1},"title":"Earth\u2019s magnetic poles could start to flip. What happens then?","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"December 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"by Jonathan O'Callaghan As Earth's magnetic shield fails, so do its satellites. First, our communications satellites in the highest orbits go down. Next, astronauts in low-Earth orbit can no longer phone home. And finally, cosmic rays start to bombard every human on Earth. This is a possibility that we may\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The magnetic field protecting our planet originates deep in the Earth's core but fluctuates in strength over time.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/magnetic-core.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/magnetic-core.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/magnetic-core.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/magnetic-core.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/magnetic-core.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/12\/magnetic-core.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1661,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/1661\/could-there-be-life-on-jupiters-moons\/","url_meta":{"origin":2451,"position":2},"title":"Could there be life on Jupiter\u2019s moons?","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"March 15, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The search for life outside of Earth has taken many forms. Mars, our neighbouring world, looks like it was once habitable. Perhaps too Venus, despite its current hellish conditions. But in recent years, scientists\u2019 gazes have been drawn elsewhere. What about the moons of Jupiter? Three of Jupiter\u2019s four largest\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space"","block_context":{"text":"Space","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/space\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/03\/Image-credit-NASA-JPL.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/03\/Image-credit-NASA-JPL.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/03\/Image-credit-NASA-JPL.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2021\/03\/Image-credit-NASA-JPL.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2337,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2337\/shedding-light-on-the-sun\/","url_meta":{"origin":2451,"position":3},"title":"Shedding light on the Sun","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"March 30, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"As questions abound about the Earth\u2019s closest star, scientists are seeking answers critical to forecasting solar flares that threaten satellites and other electronics. By\u00a0\u00a0ANTHONY KING For most of humankind\u2019s history, it has been hard to explain the Sun as anything other than a powerful deity. For instance, the ancient Greek\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/03\/30The_Sun_in_high_resolutionsmall.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/03\/30The_Sun_in_high_resolutionsmall.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/03\/30The_Sun_in_high_resolutionsmall.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2023\/03\/30The_Sun_in_high_resolutionsmall.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2677,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2677\/ocean-motion-moves-to-protect-seas-gain-momentum\/","url_meta":{"origin":2451,"position":4},"title":"Ocean motion: moves to protect seas gain momentum","author":"Horizon Magazine","date":"February 21, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"A major EU-funded research project on the Atlantic highlights worldwide efforts to preserve marine biodiversity under a landmark treaty. By Horizon Staff When it comes to life on Earth, the importance of the Atlantic Ocean may be bigger even than its size. The world\u2019s second-largest body of water after the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Earth, Energy & Environment"","block_context":{"text":"Earth, Energy & Environment","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/earth-energy-environment\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/21.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/21.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/21.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/21.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/21.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2024\/02\/21.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":369,"url":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/369\/antimatter-plasma-reveals-secrets-of-deep-space-signals\/","url_meta":{"origin":2451,"position":5},"title":"Antimatter plasma reveals secrets of deep space signals","author":"Jude Gonzalez","date":"July 16, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Mysterious radiation emitted from distant corners of the galaxy could finally be explained with efforts to recreate a unique state of matter that blinked into existence in the first moments after the Big Bang. For 50 years, astronomers have puzzled over strange radio waves and gamma rays thrown out from\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space"","block_context":{"text":"Space","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/category\/space\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A pulsar moving at supersonic speeds about 23,000 light years from Earth.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/pulsar_crp3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/pulsar_crp3.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/pulsar_crp3.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/pulsar_crp3.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/pulsar_crp3.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2018\/07\/pulsar_crp3.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/298"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2451"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2451\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2451"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2451"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2451"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}