Earth's outer core

Earth's outer core is a liquid layer rich in iron and nickel between the solid inner core and rocky mantle. Convection in this electrically conducting metal drives most of Earth's magnetic field.

Geodynamo: The process by which motion in a planet's electrically conducting fluid generates and sustains a magnetic field. Convection and rotation in the outer core power Earth's geodynamo.
Earth's inner core: Earth's solid, iron-rich central sphere, surrounded by the liquid outer core. The inner core borders the outer core and grows as material freezes onto it.
Earth accretion: The growth of Earth through collisions and accumulation of smaller bodies early in Solar System history. Accretion heated the young planet and enabled dense metal to separate into its core.
Seismology: The study of earthquakes and the seismic waves they generate. Seismic observations establish the outer core's boundaries and liquid state.
Core–mantle boundary: The interface between Earth's metallic core and rocky mantle. Heat and chemical exchange across this boundary shape outer-core convection.
Magnetohydrodynamics: The study of electrically conducting fluids and their interactions with magnetic fields. Its equations describe how core flow and magnetic fields influence each other.
Earth's mantle: The thick rocky layer between Earth's crust and metallic core. The mantle forms the outer core's upper boundary and removes heat from it.
Planetary differentiation: The separation of a planet's materials into layers according to density and chemical affinity. Differentiation concentrated iron-rich metal at Earth's center, forming the core.
Earthquake: A sudden release of energy in Earth's crust or interior that generates seismic waves. Earthquake waves passing through the deep Earth probe the outer core.
Inner-core boundary: The interface between Earth's solid inner core and liquid outer core. Freezing and melting across this boundary affect core growth and buoyancy.

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