The Dynamic Earth Chapter 3, sec. 1

Earth as a System Geosphere = soil, rock and layers of inner Earth Atmosphere = mixture of gases Hydrosphere = water on or near the Earth’s surface Biosphere = where life exhists

The Geosphere Most is located in Earth’s interior Use seismic waves to learn about interior -wave is altered by the material it travels through

Geosphere 3 chemical layers Crust Mantle core

Geosphere Crust Thin outer layer Composed of light elements Less than 1% of mass Thinnest layer (5km – 8km)

Geosphere Mantle Beneath the crust 64% of Earth’s mass 2,900 km thick Made of rocks

Geosphere Core Innermost layer Densest elements Radius of 3,400km Makes up 1/3 of mass

Geosphere 5 physical layers Lithosphere Asthenosphere Mesosphere Outer Core Inner Core

Geosphere Lithosphere Outer most layer Cool rigid layer 15km – 300km thick Includes crust and upper mantle Tectonics plates

Geosphere Asthenosphere Beneath lithosphere Plastic, solid layer of the mantle Made of rock the flows Allows movement of tectonic plates

Geosphere Mesosphere Beneath asthenosphere “middle” sphere Lower part of the mantle

Geosphere Outer Core Dense liquid layer Outer shell of the core Nickel and iron

Geosphere Inner Core Dense, solid Iron and nickel 4,000 °C to 5,000 °C Solid due to pressure