Modeling Earth's Enigmatic Core

This graphic was taken from a spectral-element application called SPECFEM3D_GLOBE that uses a fine mesh of hexahedral finite elements, pictured here, and high-performance computers to help seismologists learn more about the inner sanctum of the Earth's core. Somewhat like the way a CAT scan images the brain, seismologists use the application to track seismic wave patterns from earthquakes to model the structure of Earth's core.

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Image credit: D. Komatitsch, Université de Pau; L. Carrington, San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego