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Crust
Ocea Land
rust
n Continen
c e a ni cC tal
O
Crust
Convection
Middle
Currents
Mantle
Lower Mantle
Mantle
Mantl
Upper Mantle
Convection Middle
Currents
e
Mantle
Lower Mantle
Inne
r
Core
Core
Outer
Core
Molten (liquid) metal that is about
4,700C (8,500F)
Located about 1,800 miles beneath the
crust and is about 1,400 miles thick
Composed of the melted metals nickel
and iron
Inner
Core
Solid sphere composed mostly of iron
It is believed to be as hot as 6,650C (12,000F)
Heat in the core is probably generated by the
radioactive decay of uranium and other elements
It is solid because of the pressure from the outer
core, mantle, and crust compressing it tremendously
The Earth is like a peach or a boiled egg.
Turn to a seat partner and discuss these
analogies. Come up with another analogy
and be prepared to share.
Crust
Mantle
Lithosphere Crust and
Outer Core Upper Layer of the
Liquid Mantle
Inner Core
Solid
The lithosphere (crust and upper
mantle) is divided into separate plates
which move very slowly in response to
the convecting part of the mantle.
What do these two
images tell us about
the layers of the Earth?
Temperature
increases as depth
increases
Look at the information in the graph and
table below. Whats the relationship
between depth and density/pressure?
Density and Pressure
increase as depth
increases
Temperature,
Density and
Pressure
increases as
depth
increases
Add this statement to the
arrow going down on your
foldable.
Which layer of the Earth has the
greatest temperature, pressure, and
density?
Core
Summary
The earth is layered
with a lithosphere
(crust and uppermost
mantle), convecting
mantle, and
a dense metallic core.
Pressure,
temperature, and
density increases http://www.learner.org/interacti
as depth increases.ves/dynamicearth/structure.html
Mr. Lees Layers of
the Earth Rap
Layers of the Earth Review
Summarizin
g Strategy
Which of the following statements regarding what we know about
Earths interior is most accurate?
A) We have been able to drill into the earths core
B) Much about what we know about Earths mantle and core
comes from caves and mines
C) We know only about what is on the very surface of the earth, in
what is known as the crust
Greatly simplified it
looks like
concentric spheres
Crust- the rigid outer shell of the Earth, composed of solid rock;
very thin- averages only 20 km thick (the crust is part of the
Lithosphere)
two kinds of crust
Oceanic- most abundant; consists of rocks formed from mafic
magma; very dense; very thin- 10 km thick
Continental- underlies continents; consists of rock formed from
felsic and intermediate magma; less dense than oceanic crust;
thick-30 to 85 km thick
What will happen as different kinds of crust interact with each
other?
A) Oceanic and Continental - ?
B) Old Oceanic and Younger Oceanic - ?
C) Continental and continental - ?
Model of Lithosphere and Aesthenosphere showing thickness of
Oceanic vs Continental crust
Oceanic crust
Continental crust
Mohorovicic Discontinuity
The Moho
Isopach contour lines = lines of equal thickness of the crust
The boundary zone between the crust and the mantle is called
the Mohorovicic Discontinuity or the Moho
- a zone of low velocity transmission of seismic waves
Mantle- the semi-solid (jello-like) material underlying the crust.
Extends down to about 3000 km depth
The uppermost part of the mantle is called the Aesthenosphere.
mostly molten material
The mantle is heated closer to the core
Heated mantle material rises upward very slowly
millions of years to move upward
As it near the earths surface, the mantle material liquefies
(due to pressure and temp relationships)
It also begins to cool, and slowly starts to sink back into the core
This creates a Convection current
Two highly schematic
models of
mantle convection
currents
3D models of mantle
convection currents
Heated rising
material
Cooled sinking
material
3D maps of the earths convection currents based on seismic
wave analysis-complicated looking!
Earths core
Divided into an inner and outer zone
Outer zone is liquid- doesnt transmit s-waves
Probably composed of Nickel (Ni) and Iron (Fe), some
heavier radioactive elements, along with some other
elements (S or N- Sulfur or Nitrogen)
Inner core is solid- based on speed of P-wave travel
composed of same materials as outer core
Important for generating Earths magnetic field
Earths magnetic field is created by the rotation of the outer fluid
core around the solid inner core
This creates an
electrical current
Generates an
electromagnetic
Field.
Similar to a
bar magnet with
a positive and
negative end
Earths magnetic field fluctuates over time due to the unsteady
nature of the geodynamo that is the the outer and inner core
QuickTime and a
YUV420 codec decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Earths magnetic field interacts with solar particles, forcing them to
the north or south pole, creating the Aurora Borealis
Earths magnetic field plays a vital role in the
development of Plate tectonics theory
Identification of a process that allows for
Sea Floor Spreading.
Earths Layered Structure
Earths interior consists of layers
Layers are arranged according to density
Most dense material is at the center
core
Density decreases outward
Density layering includes the
hydrosphere (oceans) and atmosphere
Thickness and Composition of
Earths Layers
Earths Temperature Structure
How Do We Know?
Refraction of Seismic Waves
Seismic Waves
Refraction change in speed and
direction when passing through a
material of different density.
Other Evidence
Refraction of seismic waves
Density of the entire planet
Gravity (mass) of entire planet
Composition of meteorites
Existence of magnetic field
Earths Magnetic Dynamo
Earths Magnetic Field
Was it always this way?
Accretion of the protoplanet
Homogeneous structure
Density differentiation
Density Differentiation
Gravitational effects vary with density of
material
Materials must be free to move
Requires plastic flow or fluid flow
Requires heat
Earth: The Unfinished Planet
Earth continues to lose heat
Volcanism brings material to Earths
surface
Other processes (subduction) return
more dense material to interior
Conclusion:
Earth is still under construction!
Implications of an
Unfinished Planet
Volcanism
Earthquakes
Atmospheric and climate change
Effects on life
Theory of Plate Tectonics
Earths lithosphere (crust +uppermost
mantle) is divided into plates
Plates move as a result of heat inside the
Earth
Plates interact to cause:
Earthquakes
Volcanos
Mountain systems
What makes the plates move?
Uneven distribution of heat in the upper
mantle (Asthenosphere) causes heat to
rise in some places
Differences in density cause colder, more
dense Lithosphere to sink back into the
asthenosphere
This Convection drives the motion of the
plates
Interactions between Plates
cause:
Earthquakes
Volcanos
Formation of mountains
Formation of ocean basins
Increase amount of continental
lithosphere
How do we find out?
How does interior differ from laboratory?
The significance of the differences depends
on the property to be probed
Equilibrium thermodynamic properties
Depend on Pressure, Temperature, Major
Element Composition.
So: Control them and measure desired
property in the laboratory! Or compute
theoretically
Non-equilibrium properties
Some also depend on minor element
composition, and history
These are more difficult to control and
replicate
How do we find out?
Experiment 1.08
00.1
pressure and/or 1.06
situ 1.02
1.01 Forsterite
0 GPa
1.00
400 800 1200 1600 2000
Temperature (K)
How do we find out?
Theory 35
Approximations S=S0
10
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Pressure (GPa)