Jet Stream Found In Earth’s Molten Outer Core

15 January 2017

 - The Earth’s core, which lies nearly 3,000 kilometers below the surface, is made of two layers.

At the very center of the Earth is the inner core, which scientists say is a solid sphere made of an iron-nickel alloy. Surrounding the inner core is the outer core of which is made of molten iron and nickel that’s believed to be between 4000-5000º Celsius.

New data gathered by the European Space Agency’s three satellite Swarm network is providing scientists with an x-ray view of the Earth’s core.

This information has led to the discovery of a jet stream flowing within the molten outer core.

Like the jet stream of air currents in the atmosphere, scientists explain that this jet stream in the outer core is a moving belt of molten material circling its magnetic North Pole and is traveling at a speed of about 40 kilometers per year.