Cracking the Code: Unveiling Earth's Deep Water Secrets
Scientists have discovered that water from Earth's surface can penetrate deep into the planet, altering the composition of the outermost region of the metallic liquid core and creating a distinct, thin layer known as the E prime layer. This finding suggests a more dynamic core-mantle interaction and a complex global water cycle. The water, transported over billions of years by subducted tectonic plates, triggers a chemical reaction at the core-mantle boundary, forming a hydrogen-rich layer in the outer core and silica crystals that integrate into the mantle. This discovery expands our understanding of Earth's internal processes and has implications for geochemical cycles and the exchange of materials between the core and mantle.