Layers of the Earth
The Earth is made of 4 main layers; the crust, the mantle, the outer core, and the inner core. Each layer is special in it's own way. I can tell that you have lots of questions in your head but ponder no more. Read these articles and you will know the answers to all that you are wondering.
The Crust
The crust is the outermost layer of the earth. The crust is where the tectonic plates are located which means most earthquakes occur in the crust.
Composition:
The crust is made up of many different types of rocks and minerals, mainly granite and basalt rock.
Temperature:
The temprature of the crust is about 1600 degrees F.
Thickness:
The crust is 5 km thick from the sea floor to the mantle, and 60 km thick from the top of the continents to the mantle.
Composition:
The crust is made up of many different types of rocks and minerals, mainly granite and basalt rock.
Temperature:
The temprature of the crust is about 1600 degrees F.
Thickness:
The crust is 5 km thick from the sea floor to the mantle, and 60 km thick from the top of the continents to the mantle.
The Mantle
The mantle is the second layer of the earth and makes up about 80% of the earth. There are two layers to the mantle, the lithosphere and the asthenosphere. Within the mantle you will find convection currents which affect the earth in many ways.
Convection Currents:
Convection currents occur in the lithosphere and the asthenosphere. The fluid in the asthenosphere is heated from its closeness to the inner core. Heat rises so the hot fluid rises up into the lithosphere which then cools down and sinks back down to the asthenosphere. This is an ongoing cycle.
Composition:
The lithosphere is made up of hard dense rock. The asthenosphere is made up of a thick flowing fluid (like molasses).
Temperature:
The temperature of the lithosphere is about 2520 degrees F and the asthenosphere is about 5400 degrees F.
Thickness:
The mantle is about 2900 km thick.
Convection Currents:
Convection currents occur in the lithosphere and the asthenosphere. The fluid in the asthenosphere is heated from its closeness to the inner core. Heat rises so the hot fluid rises up into the lithosphere which then cools down and sinks back down to the asthenosphere. This is an ongoing cycle.
Composition:
The lithosphere is made up of hard dense rock. The asthenosphere is made up of a thick flowing fluid (like molasses).
Temperature:
The temperature of the lithosphere is about 2520 degrees F and the asthenosphere is about 5400 degrees F.
Thickness:
The mantle is about 2900 km thick.
The Outer Core
The Outer Core is the third layer of the earth.
Composition:
This layer is made up of liquid iron and nickel.
Temperature:
The temperature of the outer core is about 6000 degrees F.
Thickness:
The outer core is about 1900 km thick.
Composition:
This layer is made up of liquid iron and nickel.
Temperature:
The temperature of the outer core is about 6000 degrees F.
Thickness:
The outer core is about 1900 km thick.
The Inner Core
The inner core is the centre of the earth. The inner core is the hottest layer of the earth yet is a solid because of all the weight pushing down on it forcing it together to be a solid. This effect is similar to making a snowball.
Composition:
The inner core is made of solid iron and nickel.
Temperature:
The inner core is hotter than the surface of the sun. It is about 11,000 degrees F.
Thickness:
The inner core is approximately 1500 km thick.
Composition:
The inner core is made of solid iron and nickel.
Temperature:
The inner core is hotter than the surface of the sun. It is about 11,000 degrees F.
Thickness:
The inner core is approximately 1500 km thick.