A groundbreaking study published in Nature Communications has unveiled a remarkable discovery: the Sun rays impact Earth's core in surprising ways. The study reveals that the Sun’s rays are not only affecting the Earth's surface but are also penetrating deep into its core, altering its chemistry in unexpected manners.

The research highlights how solar energy impacts the Earth's core through a unique mechanism involving marine life. According to the study, dead marine organisms that have absorbed solar energy eventually make their way into the Earth's mantle, where they influence the chemical properties of the magma. This process starts when these organisms, after dying, settle on the seafloor. Over time, they become part of the sediment that gets dragged into the mantle through a geological process known as subduction. During subduction, one tectonic plate is forced beneath another, carrying these sediments into the deeper layers of the Earth.

Sun rays impact Earth's core
Image Source: SciTechDaily

The study, led by geologists at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, reveals that these marine fossils and their solar-related properties affect the "redox" state of the magma. Redox, short for reduction-oxidation, measures the balance between oxidized and reduced forms of chemical compounds. The researchers discovered that the redox state of magma varies depending on latitude, indicating a link between the distribution of solar energy absorbed by marine life and the chemical composition of the Earth's mantle.

The researchers analyzed samples from different latitudes and found significant variations in the redox states. This was unexpected, as previous studies had compared samples from similar longitudinal regions, such as the U.S. and Mexico, without finding significant differences. The new data, however, showed that latitude plays a crucial role in determining the redox state of the magma. This suggests that solar energy, through its impact on marine life, has a direct influence on deep Earth chemistry.

The study also highlighted the role of carbon deposits on the seafloor. Scientists observed that these deposits, which are more abundant at lower latitudes, interact with sulfur to form sulfides. This interaction is suspected to contribute to the changes in the magma's redox state. The presence of these carbon-sulfur interactions provides further evidence of the connection between surface conditions and deep Earth processes.

The findings of this study have significant implications for our understanding of the Earth's internal chemistry and its connection to surface conditions. The research suggests that the Earth's surface environment and climate can influence deep Earth conditions in ways that were previously not well understood. This new insight opens up new directions for exploring how surface and deep Earth processes are interconnected.

The study’s lead researcher, Wan Bo, emphasized the importance of these findings: "The observed pattern suggests a strong link between the surface environment and the redox state of the deep Earth. This provides new directions for exploring the resources and environmental impacts of subduction systems at different latitudes."

You might also be interested in - Earth records hottest day in 84 years, Reaching 17.09°C