GEOSPHERE!

WHEN YOU THINK OF A SYSTEM, WHAT COMES TO MIND?

WHAT DO ALL THESE SYSTEMS HAVE IN COMMON? 1. THEY ALL HAVE INTERCONNECTING PARTS!

THE EARTH AS A SYSTEM A system is a collection of interdependent parts within a defined area. The Earth is described as a system since it also has connecting ‘parts’ that make up its ‘whole.’

GEOSPHERE (AKA LITHOSPHERE) The solid part of Earth that consists of all solid rock, as well as soils and loose rocks on the surface.

LAYERS OF THE EARTH Most of the geosphere is located underground.

CRUST Earth’s outermost layer (the thinnest layer) It is between km thick (3-12 miles!) Less than 1% of the Earth’s mass is crust.

CRUST The lithosphere (another name for crust) contains the tectonic plates. Tectonic Plates are pieces of Earth’s crust and the outermost crust. These plates ‘glide’ along the mantle.

MANTLE The middle and thickest layer of the Earth’s layers Accounts for almost 2/3 of the Earth’s mass! Two layers: Upper & Lower

LAYERS OF THE MANTLE UPPER MANTLE Contains ‘asthenosphere’ 250 km thick (155 miles) Solid, but flowing rock, which allows the tectonic plates above it to move as well. LOWER MANTLE Contains ‘mesosphere’ 2550 km thick (1585 miles)

CORE Earth’s innermost layer Composed of the most dense elements. Radius is 3428 km (2,130 miles!) There are 2 layers Inner core Outer core

LAYERS OF THE CORE INNER CORE: Solid iron and nickel OUTER CORE: Hot Liquid Metal

PARTS OF THE GEOSPHERE Tectonic Plates – Plates of rock gliding on the mantle Plate tectonics are constantly moving either Away from one another (Divergent) Slipping past one another (Transform) Colliding into each other (Convergent)

PARTS OF THE GEOSPHERE A fault is a fracture or break in the Earth’s crust due to plate movement. The vibrations that occur during plate movement is felt as an earthquake!

RING OF FIRE – IS THERE A SIMILARITY BETWEEN THIS AND MAP OF TECTONIC PLATES?

PARTS OF THE GEOSPHERE - EARTHQUAKES Earthquakes are measured by their magnitude, or how much energy they release. The Richter scale is used to measure earthquakes’ magnitudes.

PARTS OF THE GEOSPHERE A volcano is a mountain built from magma. Magma is melted rock that is underground. Volcanoes are typically found near tectonic plates, either on land or in the ocean, where they eventually turn into islands.

EFFECTS ON THE PLANET  Earthquakes can do millions of dollars in damage to cities and infrastructures (roadways)  Volcanic eruptions can damage surrounding areas and can cause human loss  Hot ash can hurt buildings, bury crops and damage car engines and people if inhaled  Volcanic eruptions can change global climate due to blocking sunlight!