The foundation of our existence on Earth is rooted in events that took place within the first 100 million years of the formation of our solar system, during the meteorite-impact prone Hadean eon. A superheated iron-nickel core at our planet’s centre provides thermal energy-driven magmatism, which generated the layered, rocky Earth of the present. This magmatism also created the oceans, the atmosphere, and crucially, may have sparked life which is protected from adverse stellar radiation by the core’s magnetosphere. Despite its importance, there are no direct samples available from the core.
Join Nadine Wittig, a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences at Carleton University, as she discusses how geochemists and geophysicists have painstakingly assembled pivotal evidence that allows the reconstruction of the core by using precious metal abundances and the hafnium-tungsten chronometer.
Where: Ottawa Public Library, Sunnyside Branch, 1049 Bank Street.
When: Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
The free 20-minute discussion will be followed by a question and answer session. The Science Café series takes place every second Wednesday until Apr. 23, 2014.
The Science Café series is organized by the Faculty of Science at Carleton University to discuss relevant issues facing our society and how science can help solve real-world problems. Meet some of our award-winning faculty members and graduate students as they share their excitement about science with the community. For more information, visit Sciencecafe.Carleton.ca.
For more information:
Chris Cline
Media Relations
Carleton University
613-520-2600, ext. 1391
christopher_cline@carleton.ca