When the seasons change, the angle of the axis also moves.
But occasionally, something strange can be observed.
Some days are ever so slightly longer or shorter than others.
Photo: VAMPY1/Depositphotos
A new paper inNature Communicationsfinds these deviations are due to what is called an inner core wobble.
This finding sheds light on the inner workings of our planet.
This may come from the differences between the inner and outer core.
Earth’s layers. (Photo: Kelvinsong viaWikimedia Commons,CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED)
The former is solid, the latter liquid.
Since the tilt is westwards, it also suggests that the northwestern portion of the core is densest.
What was once a homogenous mass of molten rock is now a complex andmulti-layered phenomenon.
There may be similar planets in the universe, and understanding Earth is essential to this exploration.
