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Geophysics & Environmental Physics

Lehmann Discontinuity

The seismic boundary at a depth of ~5,150 km marking the transition between Earth's liquid outer core and solid inner core.

Governing formula Depth z ≈ 5150 km (Outer Core - Inner Core Boundary)
SI unit km (Boundary Depth)

In depth

Discovered by Danish seismologist Inge Lehmann in 1936 by analyzing weak P-wave reflections arriving in the core shadow zone.

Examples in the real world

P-wave reflection off the Lehmann discontinuity providing proof of a solid inner core.