All books

Professional

Apps About Coach Log in Start reading

Earth and Space Sciences · Glossary

What is Core–mantle boundary; inner-core boundary?

Also known as: core--mantle boundary · inner-core boundary

Definition 11.12 High School Earth and Space Sciences · Chapter 11 — Seismic Waves Reveal the Interior

The core–mantle boundary is the seismic discontinuity between the solid mantle and the liquid outer core, at a depth of 2891 km2891\,\mathrm{km}; there the P speed drops from about 13.7 km/s13.7\,\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{s} to about 8.1 km/s8.1\,\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{s}, and S waves stop. The inner-core boundary, at a depth of 5150 km5150\,\mathrm{km}, separates the liquid outer core from the solid inner core; there the P speed jumps from about 10.4 km/s10.4\,\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{s} to about 11.0 km/s11.0\,\mathrm{km}/\mathrm{s}.

Read in context →