Description: The inner core is a planet within a planet: a hot sphere with a mass of one hundred quintillion tons of iron and nickel that lies more than 5000 kilometres beneath our feet. It plays a crucial role in driving outer core fluid motion and the geodynamo, which generates the Earth's magnetic field. This book is the first to provide a comprehensive review of past and contemporary research on the Earth's inner core from a seismological perspective. Chapters cover the collection, processing and interpretation of seismological data, as well as our current knowledge of the structure, anisotropy, attenuation, rotational dynamics, and boundary of the inner core. Reviewing the latest research and suggesting new seismological techniques and future avenues, it is an essential resource for both seismologists and non-seismologists interested in this fascinating field of research. It will also form a useful resource for courses in seismology and deep Earth processes.
Brief description: Hrvoje Tkalčic is an Associate Professor in the Seismology and Mathematical Geophysics Group at the Australian National University. The author of over 60 research papers, his research interests include mathematical geophysics and the structure and dynamics of the Earth's interior using observational seismology. His recent projects focus on developing new approaches in lithospheric and mantle imaging and studying seismic sources. Dr Tkalčic is a manager of the Warramunga Seismic and Infrasound Array in Northern Territory, Australia, and he also participates in improving global coverage of seismic data by deployment in remote regions.
Review Quotes: '... the key points and important results presented in the book can be perceived without a deeper understanding of [the] mathematics, which makes the text appropriate for all interested readers with a scientific approach to the topic. Due to the considerable extent of scientific results presented and referenced, it can also be recommended to students and experts in the field.' Manuel Vogel, Contemporary Physics