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AI-driven mapping of Earth's core-mantle boundary

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2026-08-31 22:26 UTC → 2026-09-03 12:20 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have utilized deep learning tools to map the Earth’s core-mantle boundary with high precision. By analyzing over 2 million seismic waveforms from approximately 5,000 earthquakes recorded between 1990 and 2024, the AI identified nearly 175,000 previously unrecorded PKP precursor signals. The analysis revealed six previously unknown geological structures located approximately 2,900 kilometers beneath the surface, situated where the solid mantle meets the liquid outer core. These structures, which may be ultra-low velocity zones, appear as broad continuous bands rather than scattered patches. They are located beneath regions including Eurasia, Central Asia, and the South Atlantic basin. ~~Scientists~~ According to the study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, scientists suggest these formations could consist of ancient subducted oceanic crust, sediment, or debris from the collision that formed the ~~Moon.~~ Moon, such as fragments of the ancient protoplanet Theia. These findings are considered critical for understanding heat transfer between the core and mantle, which influences volcanic activity, tectonic plate movement, and the Earth’s magnetic field.

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