LAYERS OF EARTH

Learning objectives
 Identify the different layers of the earth.
 The characteristics of each earth’s layer.

Content:
 The crust.
Continental crust
Oceanic crust
Lithosphere
 Mantle.
Asthenosphere
Mesosphere
Central mantle
Lower mantle
 Core
Inner core
Outer core

The Crust
The crust is everything we can see and study directly. It is the thinnest layer of the earth,
but at the scale of the planet that’s less than the skin of an apple. The crust is not one
rigid thing, but it’s split into several tectonic plates. These tectonic plates are not
stationary, but are in relative motion one from another. Depending on the relationship
and geologic setting, there are three types of tectonic plate boundaries: Convergent
(moving one toward the other), Divergent(moving away from the other) and
Transformant (moving laterally) and there are two type of crust: Continental crust and
Oceanic crust.
 Oceanic crust can be found at the bottom of the oceans or below the continental crust;
it is generally harder and deeper, consisting of denser rocks like basalt.
Continental Crust contain granite type of rocks and sediments. The continental crust
thicker on land.

Lithosphere
This convection flow of the asthenosphere has a large impact on earth’s lithosphere, the
outermost layer of the planet. The lithosphere is only about 60 miles thick and contain
both the crust and a small portion of the upper mantle. The lithosphere is very rigid; it
does not flow like the asthenosphere but instead floats on top of it like ice on a pond.

Mantle
The mantle make up about 84% of the Earth’s total volume. Starting about 20 miles
below the earth’s surface the mantle extends approximately 1800 miles toward the
earth core, making it the largest layer of earth. The mantle is considered semi-solid, with
flowing molten iron, magnesium, and silicon making up its layer. The mantle, like the
core, is made up of a combination of other layers of the mantle.
These layer are:
1. Asthenosphere
2. Central Mantle
3. Lower Mantle

Like the layers in the core , these mantle layers are similar in many ways, but are subtly
different enough to constitute recognizing them as a separate layer of the mantle itself.

Asthenosphere

The upper mantle is made up of the lithosphere and the asthenosphere. However , the
lithosphere is shared between the crust and the mantle , so the uppermost layer of the mantle
proper is the asthenosphere. Starting approximately 60 miles below the earth surface, the
asthenosphere extend down about 400 miles. This layer of the mantle moves like a convection
oven with the current pushing hot molten magma toward the earth’s crust , sometimes
breaking through in the form of volcano and causing earthquakes when the lithosphere above
is stressed due to the movement below.

Central mantle

The central layer of the mantle is known as the transition zone due to the transformation see in
rocks in this layer. The transition zone extends from 250 miles to 410 miles below the earths
surface. Rocks transition from their surface structures to a much denser form. It is believe that
this increase in the density of rock in the central area of the mantle prohibits slabs of the
lithosphere (lower area of the crust and upper mantle) that falls into the mantle from falling
completely through the mantle.

Lower Mantle

Core

It is logical to start an exploration of the earth layer by going to its center. The core of the earth
consists of a solid metal inner core and a liquid metal outer core. In this image, the core is
represented by the central most ball of yellow (inner core) and the surrounding area of
orange(outer core).

Outer Core

Unlike the inner core, the outer core is liquid. It is about 2000 miles thick and is made up of iron
and nickel. It is similar in most ways to the inner core however, it is not under as much pressure
as the inner core, those the extreme temperature melts the metals creating a flowing liquid
outer core. It is the movement within the outer core that creates the core’s magnetism effect
on the earth’s crust. This magnetic field creates the earth’s north and south poles.

Inner Core

The inner core of the earth consists of extremely hot (over 9000 degrees f) metal (mostly iron
and nickel) under incredible pressure (as much as 3.6 million atmosphere of pressure). It is this
extreme pressure that makes the inner core solid. The temperature is hot enough to melt iron,
but the pressure is to high to allow the melting process to occur.