E-prime layer

November 22, 2023

A study by an international team of researchers has revealed the formation of new enigmatic layer – E prime layer – at the outermost part of Earth’s core is a result of “surface water penetrating deep into the planet,” altering the composition of the metallic liquid core’s outermost region.
- Earth comprises four primary layers: an inner core at the planet’s center, surrounded by the outer core, mantle, and crust.
This latest research suggests that tectonic plates carrying surface water have transported it deep into the Earth over billions of years.
Upon reaching the core-mantle boundary about 1,800 miles below the surface, this water initiates significant chemical changes, influencing the core’s structure.
The reaction leads to the formation of a hydrogen-rich, silicon-depleted layer at the outer core, resembling a film-like structure.
Silica crystals generated by this process ascend and blend into the mantle, impacting the overall composition.
These modifications in the liquid metallic layer could potentially result in reduced density and altered seismic characteristics.