Primordial Earth Inside Planet Earth The Lithosphere Created by Simone Gorman Global Systems The theory of plate tectonics explains global patterns of geological activity and continental movement Primordial Earth Inside Planet Earth The Lithosphere All energy on Earth comes from the sun as light and heat. All life is dependent on that energy; held together in a fragile balance of exchange. This system supports the Biodiversity of Life on Planet EARTH

Created by Simone Gorman Primordial Earth

Primordial Earth Earth formed 4.5 billion years before the present BP. Created by Simone Gorman Primordial Earth Earth formed 4.5 billion years before the present BP. Red-hot ball of molten rock. As the planet cooled heat energy was trapped in its core. The outer layer cooled and became solid Inner core remains red hot. New earth is made by volcanos. Red hot lava spews up from the core. On the surface lava dries to form new land. These new rocks are rich in nutrients. Earthquakes recycle old rocks sucking them back into the inner core where they are melted down to molten lava.

Created by Simone Gorman Inside Planet Earth Earth is the only planet with a dynamic inner core of layers. We call this PLANETARY DIFFERENTIATION Because Earth is constantly changing and recycling LIFE is able to flourish.

Dynamic Earth Activity Created by Simone Gorman Dynamic Earth Activity

Created by Simone Gorman The LITHOSPHERE

Created by Simone Gorman Plate Tectonics

The Lithosphere : Earth’s Crust Created by Simone Gorman The Lithosphere : Earth’s Crust The Lithosphere sometimes called Earth’s Crust is the hard outer shell of planet Earth. It is made of two parts The Lithosphere The Asthenosphere The Crust is divided into large plates that fit together like a jigsaw. These plates ride like rafts on the semi molten rocks below, carrying the land and sea. We call this movement ~ PLATE TECTONICS

Plate Movement = Recycles Land Created by Simone Gorman Plate Movement = Recycles Land

Plate Movement = Recycled Land Created by Simone Gorman Plate Movement = Recycled Land Caused by hot rock rising from the Earth’s core. Rocks cool and spread in opposite directions near the surface. Cool rock sinks back down. This process pushes and pulls plates in different directions. RECYCLING OLD ROCKS Where 2 plates collide, one plate is pushed deep into the core where it melts back down to molten rock. Living organisms inside the melting rock release carbon dioxide gas. CREATING NEW ROCK Carbon dioxide gas returns to the atmosphere through volcanic eruptions. New earth is spewed from the Earth’s core during an eruption, when it cools it hardens forming new crust. This process recycles nutrients and influences our ATMOSPHERE.

Dynamic Earth Activity 2 Created by Simone Gorman Dynamic Earth Activity 2