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Models of the earth's coreCombined inferences from seismology, high-pressure experiment and theory, geomagnetism, fluid dynamics, and current views of terrestrial planetary evolution lead to models of the earth's core with five basic properties. These are that core formation was contemporaneous with earth accretion; the core is not in chemical equilibrium with the mantle; the outer core is a fluid iron alloy containing significant quantities of lighter elements and is probably almost adiabatic and compositionally uniform; the more iron-rich inner solid core is a consequence of partial freezing of the outer core, and the energy release from this process sustains the earth's magnetic field; and the thermodynamic properties of the core are well constrained by the application of liquid-state theory to seismic and labroatory data.
Document ID
19820027810
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Stevenson, D. J.
(California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
November 6, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: Science
Volume: 214
Subject Category
Geophysics
Accession Number
82A11345
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-05-007-002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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