I mean if they can’t even drill through the crust how can they know anything about the mantle or core?
In: Planetary Science
In a technical sense, the temperature at the Earth’s core remains unmeasured and has never been directly assessed. The temperature(s) of Earth’s core are educated guesses based on seismic activity, magnetic activity, and the current theories on the Earth’s interior composition.
Scientists use seismic waves (shockwaves generated by earthquakes or artificial sources) to study the Earth’s interior. These waves travel through the Earth, and the way they behave provides information about the composition and temperature of the Earth’s layers.
Changes in the Earth’s magnetic field provide insights into the dynamics of the outer core, which is composed mainly of molten iron and nickel.
Scientists have been able to pinpoint with greater specificity the exact melting point of iron, which allows them to make educated guesses about the temperatures that must exist in Earth’s inner and outer cores.
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