What is the main result of convection in the outer core?

What is the main result of convection in the outer core?

Convection Currents in the Mantle The heat in the outer core results from residual energy from the Earth’s formative events and the energy generated by decaying radioactive elements. This heat warms the base of the mantle to an estimated 7,230°F.

What is the convection of the outer core?

The Earth’s outer core is in a state of turbulent convection as the result of radioactive heating and chemical differentiation. This sets up a process that is a bit like a naturally occurring electrical generator, where the convective kinetic energy is converted to electrical and magnetic energy.

How does convection work in the outer core?

As the core heats the bottom layer of mantle material, particles move more rapidly, decreasing its density and causing it to rise. The rising material begins the convection current. The material cools because it is no longer near the core. It eventually becomes cool and dense enough to sink back down into the mantle.

Why is there convection in the outer core and what is the result of this?

The liquid iron in the outer core is an excellent electrical conductor, and creates the electrical currents that drive the magnetic field. The energy supply that drives convection in the outer core is provided as droplets of liquid iron freeze onto the solid inner core. Solidification releases heat energy.

What are convection currents in Earth’s mantle?

Convection currents are the movement of fluid as a result of differential heating or convection. In the case of the Earth, convection currents refer to the motion of molten rock in the mantle as radioactive decay heats up magma, causing it to rise and driving the global-scale flow of magma.

Does convection occur in outer core?

Convection in the Earth’s outer core is driven by buoyancy sources of both thermal and compositional origin. The thermal and compositional molecular diffusivities differ by several orders of magnitude, which can affect the dynamics in various ways.

Why is convection in the outer core important?

The Earth’s liquid outer core is stirred by thermal and compositional convection. Core convection is believed to be a primary source of dynamo action, and so it is responsible for the Earth’s magnetic field. We therefore also consider how the morphology of core convection affects the magnetic field generated.

What was the result of convection currents Class 9?

These things happen as a result of the Convection Currents. The convection currents tend to move a fluid or gas particles from one place to another. Due to this temperature difference, the hot fluids tend to rise, whereas cold fluids tend to sink. This creates a current within the fluid called Convection current.

What do convection currents in the outer core create?

The Mechanism of Convection When the elements that make up the mantle are subjected to pressure they create heat, which drives convection. Convection is how dense material in the Earth’s core sinks while lighter material rises.

What are facts about the outer core?

Earth’s outer core is a fluid layer about 2,400 km (1,500 mi) thick and composed of mostly iron and nickel that lies above Earth’s solid inner core and below its mantle. Its outer boundary lies 2,890 km (1,800 mi) beneath Earth’s surface.

What is the temperature of the outer core?

It is estimated that the temperature of the outer core is from 4,000-8,000 K (6,740-13,940 degrees F or 3,730-7,730 degrees C) as it gets near the inner core, and 3,400-4,500 K (4,940-7,640 degrees F or 2,730-4,230 degrees C) in its outer regions. The constant churning of liquid iron of the outer core creates magnetic fields and electricity.

What is the density of the inner core?

The density of the inner core is believed to vary smoothly from about 13.0 kg/L (= g/cm 3 = t/m 3) at the center to about 12.8 kg/L at the surface.

What is the depth of the inner core?

In terms of size, the inner core’s radius is about 1,220 kilometers (768 miles). The outer core is believed to be about 2,300 kilometers (1,400 miles) thick, and is located 2,890 kilometers (1,400 miles) beneath the surface of the Earth. The inner core is about 6,371 kilometers (3,958 miles) deep beneath the surface.