What would happen if the Earth become completely solid?

[ExNihilo]

Let's imagine that the interior of the Earth becomes completely solid. And suppose this happens within a period which is humanly observable (10 - 50 years?)

I guess that Earth quake, volcano, continent drift will all stopped. Are there any other significant impact?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.

 

[Vagn]

We could lose our magnetic field, which would be bad. There'd be no continental movement, so there'd be large hotspot volcanoes around Hawaii and the Canary Islands if vulcanism was to continue.

 

[ExNihilo]

We could lose our magnetic field.

This is enough to end life on Earth in a long run. Can you please elaborate on the physical reasons why the magnetic field would be affected?

 

[Drakkith]

This is enough to end life on Earth in a long run. Can you please elaborate on the physical reasons why the magnetic field would be affected?

The magnetic field of the Earth is generated by a dynamo effect of the outer core. If this wasn't a liquid, it would not work.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dynamo_theory

 

[ExNihilo]

Thank you for the link. Understood for the magnetic field. Just to continue on this imaginary scenario of the solid Earth, would there be any other changes? Weather, Mining, Ocean, etc?

 

[Radrook]

Thank you for the link. Understood for the magnetic field. Just to continue on this imaginary scenario of the solid Earth, would there be any other changes? Weather, Mining, Ocean, etc?

The whole food chain with chemosynthetic bacteria as its base would be negatively affected when the hydrothermal vents (black smokers) cease to exist.


Hydrothermal vents Article
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent



Hydrothermal Vents Video
http://video.nationalgeographic.com...t/habitats-oceans-env/hydrothermal-vents.html

Please note that I am assuming a completely solid Earth with no continental drift or techtonic plate activity to create and sustain undersea volcanism.

 

[ferrelhadley]

Over 10 000s of years the Earth will freeze and become a snow ball. Without volcanic outgassing to replace CO2 sequestered by rock weathering there would be a slow run down in total atmospheric CO2 levels and the cooling would reach a runaway state when the glaciers were far enough south. This happened before when the sun was much weaker but the outgassing eventually added enough CO2 to melt back the ice.

 

[Chronos]

On the plus side, a solid Earth would mean no more earthquakes or volcanism. And human C02 emissions would no longer be viewed as a threat to life on earth. On the other hand, loss of the magnetosphere would be bad. Solar wind would sputter away the Earth's atmosphere and we would be bombarded by high energy radiation. Neither condition is conducive to life on earth.

 

[ExNihilo]

Thanks Vagn, ferrelhadley, Chronos. These were the answers I was looking for. I would like to benefit from your knowledge further.

Q1. Would the Earth become solid one day? If yes when (approx value is more than enough)?

Q2. What is the reason the iron core in the Earth cannot keep its magnetic properties permanently?