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Physical Geography – Mains Question 05

1. With the help of a diagram, discuss the internal structure of the earth. Explain how the study of seismic
waves helps in a better understanding of the earth’s interior. (10 Marks, 150 Words)

How to Approach the Question:

❖ Introduction: Introduce by mentioning various earth layers within 25-30 words.
❖ Body 1: Draw a diagram of the internal structure of the earth and discuss the same within 40-50 words
➢ Body 2: List different aspects of understanding the earth's interior deduced from seismic waves in
30-40 words.
❖ Conclusion: Conclude by mentioning the central role of seismic waves at the heart of complex methods
of studying the earth's internal structure in 25-30 words.
Answer:
Introduction
The interior of the earth is made up of several concentric layers. Mechanically, the earth’s layers can be divided
into lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesospheric mantle and core. Chemically, the earth can be divided into
the crust, upper mantle, lower mantle, outer core, and inner core.
Body
The Internal Structure of Earth:
❖ Crust: It is the outermost solid part of the Earth with a thickness of 5-30 km, accounting for 1% of
Earth’s volume and 5% of Earth’s mass. The
oceanic crust is thinner (about 5 km) as compared
to the continental crust (about 30 km). The
continental crust consists of SIAL i.e., silica and
aluminium, while the Oceanic crust consists of
SIMA i.e., silica and magnesium. The mean
density of the crust materials is 3g/cm3.
Mohorovicic Discontinuity or Moho
Discontinuity separates the crust from the mantle.
❖ Mantle: The layer beyond the crust is the mantle
with a thickness of 2900 km, making up 84% of
earth volume and 67% of earth mass. The
mantle is made of oxygen, silicon, and magnesium with a density of about 3.3-5.4 g/cm3. The
asthenosphere, the highly viscous upper region lies just below the lithosphere in the mantle and is
the main source of magma, over which the continental plates move. Gutenberg Discontinuity separates
the mantle and the outer core.
❖ Core: It is the innermost layer constituting 15% of Earth’s volume and 32.5% of Earth’s mass. It has
the highest density of all layers at 9.5-14.5 g/cm3. It is composed mainly of NiFe i.e., iron (Fe) and
nickel (Ni). The inner core is solid and the outer core is liquid.
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The study of seismic waves has helped in providing a detailed view of Earth’s interior as described below:
❖ Thickness: P-waves are faster and can travel through both solids and liquids. S-waves are slower and
cannot travel through liquids. This characteristic of seismic waves has helped arrive at important
conclusions about the thickness of various layers inside the earth through analysis of arrival times of
seismic signals during earthquakes.
❖ Composition: Scientists have deduced Earth’s composition by studying the shadow zones of seismic
waves. i.e., the absence and presence of P- and S-waves on seismograms during earthquakes at different
places, due to the blocking and deflection of seismic waves by structural layers. For example, the
deflection of p-waves at the boundary between the inner and outer core gives information about the
composition of the solid inner core. Theoretical studies and modeling help arrive at more concrete
conclusions based on raw seismic data.
❖ Structure: By measuring the time it takes for seismic waves to travel along different regions through
the earth, geologists figure out the structural components of the earth’s interiors. For example,
abrupt changes in velocity and deflections correspond to boundaries between different layers of the
Earth, uniformity, and discontinuity in composition and state of matter at different depths.
Conclusion
Geologists use various indirect methods of gravity, magnetic field, and seismic waves to determine Earth’s
interior, along with complex computational methods. However, most hypotheses about the internal
structure of the earth are developed by studying seismic waves.
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