earth sci Flashcards
What are the layers of the earth (be specific)
inner core, outer core, lower mantle, upper mantle, asthenosphere, lithosphere, continental crust, oceanic crust
Outermost and thinnest layer of the Earth
▪ 5-70 km thick
▪ Where we live! (coolest part)
crust
what are the elemental composition of the earths crust
oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, manesium, calcium, and others
- Make up the continents (land)
- Mostly older rock (3.5 B years in age)
- About 10-70 km
- Density: 2.7 g/cm^3
- Granitic rocks
- Composed primarily of Al and Silicate
minerals
continental crust
Found under water
* Younger rocks (not older than 200 M
years)
* Thin (~7 km)
* Density: 2.9 g/cm^3
* Basalt
* Abundant w/ Mg silicate minerals
oceanic crust
a semisolid, rocky, and very hot layer
▪ Largest and thickest layer
▪ ferro-magnesium silicate rocks
▪ Mantle convection occur
mantle
denser, solid but plastic (malleable) rock
upper mantle
even denser, solid but plastic (malleable) rock
lower mantle
two types of core
outer and inner
Only layer of Earth that is liquid Generate Earth’s magnetic field in a process called geodynamo
outer core
Solid center of the earth
* Contribute to the decay of radioactive elements
inner core
The Greek word “lithos”, stone; “sphaira”, globe or ball.
➢ includes the crust and the brittle part of the upper mantle.
➢ Rigid outer part of the earth with thickness varying between 10-200 km
lithosphere
The Greek word “asthenes”, weak
➢ Upper portion of the mantle
➢ Thickness: 180 km
➢ Highly viscous, mechanically weak, and ductile and higher density than that of the crust.
asthenosphere
Strong lower part of the mantle
➢ Thickness: 2, 550 km
mesosphere
layers based on chemical compositions
3 only
crust, mantle, core
