A mysterious shift recorded at the edge of the Earth’s core
22 September 2025 06:11
French geophysicists from the University of Gustave Eiffel (Paris) have discovered an unusual mass shift in the Earth’s interior. It occurred between 2006 and 2008 at the boundary between the mantle and the core, at a depth of about three thousand kilometers.
The discovery is described in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
The study is based on data from the American-German GRACE satellite mission. According to the scientists, the recorded mass change in the Earth’s interior indicates possible transformations in the structure of rocks, in particular perovskites.
These minerals are formed under extreme pressure and are considered an important component of the lower mantle. Their existence has been confirmed by both laboratory experiments and seismic observations: the wave velocity in this area corresponds to the properties of perovskite rocks.
Analysis of GRACE gravity data revealed a mass shift that caused a local change in the Earth’s gravity. Scientists assume that the deformation at the boundary between the core and the mantle could reach about ten centimeters. This, in turn, could affect the movement of the liquid core and lead to the observed magnetic anomalies.
The researchers emphasize that the exact causes of these processes have not yet been established, but the results of the work will help to better understand the internal structure of the planet, as well as its impact on geodynamic processes, including earthquakes and the formation of the Earth’s magnetic field.
