The Earth's Core, Volume 37

Preface to the First Edition

Preface to the Second Edition

Chapter One General Physical Properties of the Earth

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Travel-Time and Velocity-Depth Curves

1.3 The Core-Mantle Boundary (MCB)

1.4 Free Oscillations of the Earth

1.5 Attenuation in the Earth

1.6 Variation of Density and Other Physical Properties within the Earth

1.7 Models of the Earth's Interior

Chapter Two The Origin of the Core

2.1 Introduction

2.2 The Accretion Mechanism

2.3 Heat Sources for an Earth Accreting Cold

2.4 Time of Core Formation

2.5 Inhomogeneous Models of the Earth

2.6 Variation of the Gravitational Constant G with Time

Chapter Three The Thermal Regime of the Earth's Core

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Gruneisen's Parameter

3.3 The Earths Inner Core

3.4 Melting-Point-Depth Curves

3.5 Adiabatic Temperatures

3.6 The Earth's Inner Core Reconsidered

3.7 Thermal Consequences of an Iron-Alloy Core

3.8 The Core and the Thermal History of the Earth

Chapter Four The Earth's Magnetic Field

4.1 Introduction

4.2 The Origin of the Earth's Magnetic Field

4.3 The Homogeneous Dynamo Equations

4.4 Mean-Field Electrodynamics

4.5 Reversals of the Earth's Magnetic Field

4.6 Energetics of the Earth's Core

4.7 The Secular Variation

4.8 Variations in the Length of the Day

Chapter Five The Constitution of the Core

5.1 Equations of State

5.2 The Birch-Murnaghan Equation of State

5.3 Experimental Methods

5.4 Ramsey's Hypothesis

5.5 Bullen's (k,p) Hypothesis

5.6 Bullen's Fe2O Hypothesis

5.7 The Constitution of the Core

5.8 The Possibility of Potassium in the Core

Chapter Six The Cores of Other Planets

6.1 Introduction

6.2 Mercury

6.3 Mars

6.4 Venus

6.5 The Moon

6.6 Summary

6.7 The Great Planets

Appendix A

Index

The Earth's Core, Second Edition is a six-chapter book that begins with the general physical properties of the Earth, with emphasis on the core-mantle boundary. This edition discusses the accretion mechanism, heat sources in the early Earth, time of core formation, thermal regime of the Earth, melting-point depth curves, and thermal consequences of iron-alloy core. Subsequent chapters focus on reversals of the Earth's magnetic field; the energetics and the constitution of the Earth's core; and the cores of the Moon and other planets. The role of the Earth's core is vital to the understanding of many geophysical phenomena. It is the seat of the Earth's magnetic field and is responsible as well to some variations in the length of the day.