outer core
Earth's liquid layer
The outer core is the liquid layer of Earth's interior, lying between the solid inner core and the mantle.
Composed mainly of molten iron and nickel, its churning motion generates Earth's magnetic field.
The outer core extends roughly 2,200 kilometers thick, at depths where temperatures reach 4,000–6,000 degrees Celsius.
Element twenty-eight, or coin
- sulfurYellow combustible element
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- siliconMetalloid in electronics
- metallicResembling ore-based elements
density · molten metal · alloy · iron-nickel · hydrogen · potassium · radioactive decay · chemical composition
Heat transfer via motion
- fluid motionSmooth, continuous movement
- circulationMovement through a system
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
- plumesShowy feathers or rising columns
turbulence · Coriolis effect · buoyancy · viscosity · pressure gradient · gravitational energy · cooling · heat transfer
Motion-to-electricity converter
- magnetic fieldForce zone around magnets
- geomagneticOf Earth's magnetic properties
- magnetosphereCelestial body's protective field
- dipoleSeparated opposite charges
induction · flux · electromagnetism · currents · magnetic poles · secular variation · self-sustaining · electromagnetic
Longitudinal seismic wave
- S-waveTransverse seismic vibration
- shadow zoneSeismic wave reception void
- seismologyStudy of ground tremors
- attenuationGradual intensity reduction
Covering or wrap
- boundary layerViscous region near walls
- transition zoneRegion between differing areas
- earth's interiorPlanet's inner layers
- depthDistance below surface
nickel
Element twenty-eight, or coin
metallic · density · molten metal · alloy · iron-nickel · hydrogen · potassium · radioactive decay · chemical composition · iron alloy
convection
Heat transfer via motion
- fluid motionSmooth, continuous movement
- circulationMovement through a system
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
plumes · turbulence · Coriolis effect · buoyancy · viscosity · pressure gradient · gravitational energy · cooling · heat transfer · eddy currents
dynamo
Motion-to-electricity converter
- magnetic fieldForce zone around magnets
- geomagneticOf Earth's magnetic properties
- magnetosphereCelestial body's protective field
dipole · induction · flux · electromagnetism · currents · magnetic poles · secular variation · self-sustaining · electromagnetic · aurora
P-wave
Longitudinal seismic wave
- S-waveTransverse seismic vibration
- shadow zoneSeismic wave reception void
- seismologyStudy of ground tremors
attenuation · refraction · seismograph · wave speed · tomography
mantle
Covering or wrap
- boundary layerViscous region near walls
- transition zoneRegion between differing areas
- earth's interiorPlanet's inner layers
- planetary cores
- earth scienceatmosphere, earthquake, geology, volcano, crust
- Coresnucleus, kernel, center
- Earth's coreiron, nickel
- Earth's interiorcrust, mantle, lithosphere, asthenosphere, layers
- core elementsiron, nickel, molten iron, sulfur, oxygen
outer coreinner core
Centermost solid sphere
solid core · crust · surface · mantle · lithosphere
core, outer, cores, hardcore, cored, outerwear, outermost, coring, softcore