How Quickly Is the Earth's Core Slowing Down?

[Phrak]

1 Why does the Earth's core spin in relation to the crust?
2. How quickly are viscous effects slowing it down, if it actually is slowing down?

-deCraig

 

[Andre]

The question whether or not the inner core spins faster than the mantle crust is debated for over a decade. The http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V61-4P7787K-1&_user=10&_coverDate=09%2F15%2F2007&_rdoc=21&_fmt=summary&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%235801%232007%23997389998%23667059%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=5801&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=27&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=3884cd4132962947b1caff2d7fefdafb suggest that there is a very small super rotation factor around 0,1 sec per decade or 8.6 million years for a revolution, compared to the first estimates of one rotation every 400 years.

Why? Any explanation is speculation although Gary Glatzmaiers geo magnetism model predicted a superrotation. So he is happy. And if that's correct then obviously the spinning of the inner core would likely react on magneto dynamic variation.

 

[Phrak]

Way cool, Andre. Thanks for the info.

I'm been suffering under the impression since gradeschool that the core rotated at a significant rate--far more than quoted in your references.

I was interested in this topic as to the origine of the Earth's magnetohydrodynamics sources, so it was nice to see it address in your links.

-deCraig