2015 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
| Project/Area Number |
15F15724
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| Research Institution | Tokyo Institute of Technology |
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Principal Investigator |
廣瀬 敬 東京工業大学, 地球生命研究所, 教授 (50270921)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
LASBLEIS MARINE 東京工業大学, 地球生命研究所, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-04-24 – 2017-03-31
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| Keywords | Earth’s core / inner core / early earth / cristallisation |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
During the first year of my fellowship, I have developed a model for the crystallization of the inner core. The inner core is the solid part of the Earth’s core, and is growing as the liquid part is freezing, because of the decrease of temperature in the center of the Earth. The liquid part is made of an iron alloy with light elements, that are expelled when freezing, creating light plumes in the outer core. These plumes are usually thought as the main driving force for the geodynamo. However, the base of the core is observed to be stratified, and such plumes emitted at the inner core boundary would be disrupting the stratification. I have shown that the freezing of small particles of iron in the base of the outer core can explain the observed anomalous layer in the liquid part of the core.
I have presented my work at an international conference (AGU - talk) as well as as an invited speaker in several universities.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
Study of the early evolution of the Earth’s core, including the formation of the inner core, is now a very active field. In this context, I have focus my studies on the dynamics of the Earth’s core and how the inner core is growing, using 2-phase flow dynamics as well as results obtained by mineral physics with high pressure experiments and comparison with seismic observations.
I have started several collaborations with researchers overseas, to explore the dynamic of the inner core topography (RRenaud Deguen, Universite de Lyon, France), to link seismic observations and dynamics (Elizabeth Day, Imperial College London, UK, Lauren Waszek, University of Maryland, USA) and to study the very early time of the Earth’s core (Matthieu Laneuville, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan). All of these collaborations aim to the same interest: what is the thermal and chemical history of the inner core, from early time to today, and how to link it to the mechanisms of the inner core freezing.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In the next year, I would like to develop more the model for freezing of the inner core, incorporating the region below the inner core boundary.
I have also starting collaborations with researchers overseas, that I will continue.
I will present my work at different international conferences (SEDI 2016, AGU 2016).
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Research Products
(6 results)
