New research from The Australian National University (ANU) has uncovered how powerful winter storms in the North Atlantic Ocean send energy signals that travel all the way through Earth’s core, providing scientists with valuable information about our planet’s interior.
These findings could also help in exploring other planets in our solar system.
The study, published in the journal Seismological Research Letters, was led by seismologists from ANU.
They used two special 50-by-50-kilometer spiral arrays in Australia to detect PKP waves—seismic waves that travel through the Earth’s core.
Surprisingly, these waves were generated not by earthquakes but by intense cyclones in the North Atlantic.
The waves traveled through the Earth’s center and were picked up by the sensitive instruments installed in remote regions of Queensland and Western Australia.
The researchers identified two specific locations, Greenland and Newfoundland, as the main sources of these energy signals.
According to ANU Ph.D. student and study co-author Abhay Pandey, the technology used to detect these tiny waves could be crucial not only for understanding Earth’s core but also for exploring other planets and moons.
He explained that if scientists could install similar seismometer arrays on other planets, they might be able to detect signs of a planetary core even if there are no quakes or volcanic activity.
Study co-author and ANU seismologist Professor Hrvoje Tkalčić shared that this method could be especially useful for smaller planets or icy moons that do not experience the typical seismic activities seen on Earth.
By listening for energy signals generated by atmospheric disturbances or hidden oceans, scientists could learn about the structure of these distant worlds.
The research team used a unique approach to make these discoveries. They installed spiral-arm arrays of seismometers in remote parts of Australia to capture the faint seismic signals.
These signals, known as “microseismic noise,” are created when powerful ocean waves interact with the Earth’s surface. Unlike regular earthquake waves, these signals are tiny and can easily go unnoticed without the right equipment.
The scientists focused on a specific seismic period band of four to six seconds, which allowed them to pinpoint the signals of interest. By combining data collected over multiple days, they were able to map out the strongest signals and trace them back to the North Atlantic, particularly around southern Greenland and the deeper parts of the ocean.
Professor Tkalčić explained that the North Atlantic is seismically active, but its typical low-magnitude quakes are not strong enough to provide clear insights into the Earth’s deeper structure.
However, the microseismic waves generated by winter storms proved to be an effective alternative. He added that the observational infrastructure in Australia, with its vast, quiet landscapes, is ideal for capturing these faint signals.
The study’s findings open up new possibilities for planetary exploration. If similar methods could be used on other planets or moons, scientists might be able to explore their hidden cores without the need for traditional seismic activity.
This breakthrough shows that even the fury of distant storms can help us understand the mysteries beneath our feet—and potentially beyond our planet.
