Earth's Internal Structure PDF

EARTH’S INTERNAL STRUCTURE  PLANET EARTH Earth is known to be the only planet in the universe that sustains life. While it may appear to be one huge solid rock, it is actually made up of various components, some of which are constantly shifting and moving. EARTH'S STRUCTURE Earth's...

EARTH’S INTERNAL STRUCTURE  PLANET EARTH Earth is known to be the only planet in the universe that sustains life. While it may appear to be one huge solid rock, it is actually made up of various components, some of which are constantly shifting and moving. EARTH'S STRUCTURE Earth's structure is made up of four different layers. Each layer has its distinct characteristics and composition. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT LAYERS OF THE EARTH?  CRUST (thinnest layer) The Earth's outermost layer is known as the crust. Mainly composed of Aluminum and Silicate. Overall 1% of the earth’s mass. It is where life thrives.  CRUST CONTINENTAL CRUST OCEANIC CRUST CONTINENTAL CRUST Continental crust tends to be much older than the oceanic kind, and rocks found on this kind of crust are often the oldest in the world.  OCEANIC CRUST Oceanic crust is found under oceans, and it is about four miles thick in most places. A feature unique to oceanic crust is that there are areas known as mid-ocean ridges where oceanic crust is still being created. MANTLE (thickest layer) It is made of molten iron and minerals that will still flow under pressure. UPPER MANTLE LOWER MANTLE  UPPER MANTLE about 100 km down into the Earth, the temperature is already in the range of 450-900°C. Actually, it’s so hot that you would just see white and the pressure is remarkably intense. The upper mantle has a density of 3.9 g/cm3.  LOWER MANTLE The lower mantle has a significantly higher density than the upper mantle. It averages about 5.0 g/cm3 of mostly solid rocks.  OUTER CORE Earth’s outer core is liquid with a thickness of about 2,400 km. It’s composed mostly of nickel and iron with a density between 9.9 to 12.2 g/cm3. Because the core is made of metal, electrical conduction transfers from the core to the mantle  INNER CORE The transition between the inner and outer core is 5,150 km beneath the Earth’s surface. At the center of the Earth, it’s about 5500°C. The pressure is remarkably intense. Earth’s inner core has the highest density at 12.9 g/cm3. DISCONTINUITY ZONE Mohorovicic Discontinuity Zone Gutenberg Discontinuity Zone  MOHOROVICIC DISCONTINUITY ZONE is a boundary between the Earth’s crust and the upper mantle. An abrupt increase or jump in seismic wave velocity marks it.  GUTENBERG DISCONTINUITY Zone Gutenberg established an accurate boundary line — or discontinuity — that separates and divides the lower mantle from the outer core.  THANK YOU! I hope you learn something new!