STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH
As far as we can tell, Earth is made up of layers, Geophysical studies have revealed that the Earth has several distinct layers. Each of these layers has its own properties.
★ The outermost layer of the Earth is the crust. This comprises the continents and ocean basins. The crust has a variable thickness, being 35-70 km thick in the continents and 5-10 km thick in the ocean basins. The crust is composed mainly of alumino-silicates.
★ The next layer is the mantle, which is composed mainly of ferro-magnesium silicates. It is about 2900 km thick, and is separated into the upper and lower mantle. This is where most of the internal heat of the Earth is located. Large convective cells in the mantle circulate heat and may drive plate tectonic processes.
★ At the center is the core, which is separated into the liquid outer core and the solid inner core. The outer core is 2300 km thick and the inner core is 1200 km thick. The outer core is composed mainly of a nickel-iron alloy, while the inner core is almost entirely composed of iron. The inner core heated to such a high temperature and subjected to such a great pressure that it nature can't be imagined. Rules of conventional physics just do not apply to the Earth's core. Earth's magnetic field is believed to be controlled by the liquid outer core.
As far as we can tell, Earth is made up of layers, Geophysical studies have revealed that the Earth has several distinct layers. Each of these layers has its own properties.
★ The outermost layer of the Earth is the crust. This comprises the continents and ocean basins. The crust has a variable thickness, being 35-70 km thick in the continents and 5-10 km thick in the ocean basins. The crust is composed mainly of alumino-silicates.
★ The next layer is the mantle, which is composed mainly of ferro-magnesium silicates. It is about 2900 km thick, and is separated into the upper and lower mantle. This is where most of the internal heat of the Earth is located. Large convective cells in the mantle circulate heat and may drive plate tectonic processes.
★ At the center is the core, which is separated into the liquid outer core and the solid inner core. The outer core is 2300 km thick and the inner core is 1200 km thick. The outer core is composed mainly of a nickel-iron alloy, while the inner core is almost entirely composed of iron. The inner core heated to such a high temperature and subjected to such a great pressure that it nature can't be imagined. Rules of conventional physics just do not apply to the Earth's core. Earth's magnetic field is believed to be controlled by the liquid outer core.
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