Sun’s rays influence Earth’s core, study reveals
A recent study has uncovered a surprising connection between the Sun’s rays and changes occurring deep within the Earth’s core. Published in the journal Nature Communications, the research details how ancient magma in the Earth’s core shows chemical properties influenced by solar radiation.
Sunlight’s impact on Earth’s core
According to the study, the Sun’s rays affect the Earth’s core when dead marine life is transported into the Earth’s interior, altering the magma’s “redox” state. Marine life, which relies on the Sun’s energy and warmth, varies in distribution due to differences in solar radiation across the planet. Over time, these organisms become part of the Earth’s mantle through subduction, a process where one crustal plate is pushed beneath another.
Subduction and redox state
The presence of marine organisms in the mantle affects the “redox” state of arc magma, which involves a balance between oxidized and reduced forms of molecules. Researchers found a gradient in the redox state of magma with latitude, suggesting that marine creatures reduce the magma and the Sun influences the Earth’s core.
“Previous studies mainly compared samples from the same longitudinal regions, such as the U.S. in the northern hemisphere and Mexico in the tropical zone, without finding significant differences. However, our samples from different latitudes showed varying redox responses, which piqued our curiosity. Trying to explain these differences led us to discover this unexpected pattern,” said Wan Bo, a geologist and study author at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
“This unexpected pattern suggests that the surface climate has a direct influence on the deep Earth. It also suggests that the Earth’s surface environment and climate have a vital influence on the deep Earth,” Wan added.
Carbon deposits on seafloors
The study also revealed higher carbon deposits on seafloors at lower latitudes, which interact with sulfur to form sulfides, further contributing to the redox state of the magma. “The observed pattern suggests a strong link between the surface environment and the redox state of the deep Earth, providing new directions for exploring the resources and environmental impacts of subduction systems at different latitudes,” said Hu Fangyang, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
This groundbreaking research underscores the interconnectedness of Earth’s surface climate and its deep interior, opening new avenues for understanding the planet’s complex systems.