Abstract
The paper is concerned with the connection of planetary geodynamics and properties of the material inside the Earth. The notion “state” is considered both in the local and in the global sense. We discuss various interpretations of phase boundaries in the Earth's mantle and propose a new idea on the description of seismic discontinuities. The present thermal state of the Earth's core is investigated by using data about the attenuation of seismic waves. Because of some peculiarities in the phase diagram of the favoured core material Fe-S we come to the conclusion that the dynamics in the outer core may be characterized by the motions of small droplets. The corresponding rate of release of gravitational potential energy is enough to drive a geodynamo with an average toroidal field of mean size. According to our point of view, global planetary evolution started from an originally homogeneous Earth. The differentiation of core and mantle started in upper layers. It is an important source of energy for all following processes.
Published Version
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