Scientists Detect Unexpected Shift in Earth’s Core
科學家偵測到地核出現異常偏移
更新於: 2026年8月8日 上午01:00
Deep beneath our feet, the Earth's inner core is doing something unexpected.
在我們腳下深處，地球內核正在進行一些意想不到的活動。
Scientists have discovered that this solid iron-nickel sphere, roughly the size of the Moon, has undergone a measurable shift in its rotation.
科學家發現，這個大小大約與月球相當的固態鐵鎳球體，其旋轉發生了可測量的變化。
For years, experts believed the core rotated faster than the planet’s surface—a phenomenon called super-rotation.
多年來，專家們認為內核的旋轉速度比地表更快，這種現象被稱為「超旋轉」。
However, new seismic data suggests that around 2009, the core’s rotation slowed down, currently appearing to move in reverse relative to the mantle.
然而，新的地震數據顯示，大約在2009年左右，內核的旋轉速度放緩，目前相對於地函而言似乎在進行反向旋轉。
Researchers believe this is not a permanent change but part of a 70-year cycle where the core speeds up and slows down.
研究人員認為，這並非永久性的改變，而是內核加速與減速的70年週期的一部分。
Scientists use 'seismic sonar'—analyzing waves from repeating earthquakes—to study these deep movements.
科學家利用「地震聲納」——分析重複地震產生的波——來研究這些深層運動。
This behavior is driven by magnetic and gravitational forces between the inner core, the liquid outer core, and the rocky mantle.
這種行為是由內核、液態外核與岩石地函之間的磁力與重力所驅動的。
While the idea of a shifting core might sound dramatic, it is a natural process.
雖然內核位移的想法聽起來很戲劇化，但這是一個自然的過程。
The impact on our daily lives is negligible, causing only tiny, nearly invisible changes to the length of a day.
其對我們日常生活影響甚微，僅導致一日長度出現極小、幾乎不可見的變化。
