Outer core

Earth’s interior

The outer core is a liquid iron-rich alloy between depths of about 2,891 and 5,149.5 km. Motion of this electrically conducting fluid sustains Earth’s magnetic field. Shear waves cannot travel through it.

html,body{position:static!important;height:auto!important;overflow:auto!important}body{color:#e8f1ff}body>:not(noscript){display:none!important}#static-seo-content img{display:block;max-width:100%;height:auto}#static-seo-content{max-width:800px;margin:40px auto;padding:24px;font:16px/1.7 Arial,sans-serif}#static-seo-content a{color:#a8d5ef}#static-seo-content nav{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:12px} Earth’s interior: Crust · Upper mantle · Lower mantle · Outer core · Inner core · Innermost inner core (IMIC)

Earth’s interior: Crust · Upper mantle · Lower mantle · Outer core · Inner core · Innermost inner core (IMIC)

Outer core

The outer core is a liquid iron-rich alloy between depths of about 2,891 and 5,149.5 km. Motion of this electrically conducting fluid sustains Earth’s magnetic field. Shear waves cannot travel through it.

Beneath the seafloor NASA · Earth