Layers of the Earth Flashcards
Outermost and thinnest layer of the earth
Crust
5-70 km thick
Crust
Granitic rocks (silica and magnesium)
Continental Crust
Basaltic rocks (silica and iron)
Oceanic Crust
Thickest layer of the earth
Mantle
How much does mantle take up the earth’s mass?
80%
Solid rock
Upper Mantle
Semi-solid rock
Lower Mantle
3700-6000 degrees celsius
Core
very dense center of our planet
Core
ONLY liquid layer
Outer Core
controls the earth’s magnetic field
Outer Core
2270 km thick
Outer Core
SOLID nickel and iron
Inner Core
rigid and outermost layer of the earth
Lithosphere
includes crust and uppermost part of the mantle
Lithosphere
contains major and minor blocks of rocks
Tectonic Plates
brittle and rigid, and easily deform under stress
Lithosphere
semi liquid part of the mantle
Asthenosphere
easily deformed under heat
Asthenosphere
circulation of heat in the mantle
Convection Current
transfer heat from lower region to higher region
Convection Current
large slab of rocks
Tectonic Plates
2 crust meet
Conrad Discontinuity
Crust and Upper Mantle
Moho Discontinuity
Upper Mantle and Lower Mantle
Repetti Discontinuity
Lower Mantle and Outer Core
Guttensburg Discontinuity
Outer Core and Inner Core
Lehmann Discontinuity