lithosphere

Crust

the outermost chemical layer of the Earth and where humans reside.

Continental Crust

the type of Earth's crust that has low density and a composition similar to granite.

Oceanic Crust

the type of Earth's crust that has high density and a composition similar to basalt.

Mantle

the largest chemical layer of the Earth by volume, located below the crust and above the core.

Ophiolites

pieces of the mantle that have risen through the crust until they are exposed as part of the ocean floor.

Xenoliths

fragments of the mantle, often made of peridotite, that are carried within magma and brought to the Earth's surface by volcanic eruptions.

Core

the innermost layer of the Earth, consisting of both liquid and solid parts, mostly made of iron and nickel.

Lithosphere

the outermost physical layer of the Earth, composed of the crust and the topmost portion of the upper mantle, which is called the lithospheric mantle.

Tectonic Plates

massive, irregularly shaped slabs of solid rock composed of Earth's lithosphere that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them.

Plate Boundary

the location where two tectonic plates meet and move relative to each other.

Oceanic Lithosphere

the type of lithosphere associated with oceanic crust, found in ocean basins; it is thin and relatively rigid.

Continental Lithosphere

the type of lithosphere associated with continental crust, underlying the continents; it is generally thicker and more malleable.

Rock

a solid collection of minerals.

Sedimentary Rocks

recycled rocks formed by the deposition and cementation of fragments of material, called sediment, that have been eroded and weathered from other parent rocks.

Igneous Rocks

rocks formed by the cooling of a very hot molten magma which originates deep inside the Earth.

Lava

magma that reaches the Earth's surface through a vent or fissure.

Extrusive Igneous Rock

igneous rock that cools on the Earth's surface, exposed to air and water, resulting in a fine-grained texture.

Intrusive Igneous Rock

igneous rock that cools deep below the surface, allowing mineral crystals to become large.

Metamorphic Rocks

rocks formed from pre-existing igneous or sedimentary rocks that have been changed physically or chemically by very high temperatures and pressures deep underground.

Metamorphism

the process of "change in form" that rocks undergo when subjected to high temperatures and pressures.

Minerals

naturally occurring, inorganic substances with a distinctive chemical composition and atomic structure; they are normally crystalline.

SOIL TYPES AND LAND USE

Soil

a biologically active, porous medium that has developed in the uppermost layer of Earth's crust and serves as the principal substrate of life.

Clay

a soil particle with a diameter of less than 0.002 mm.

Silt

a soil particle with a diameter between 0.002 mm and 0.05 mm.

Sand

a soil particle with a diameter between 0.05 mm and 2 mm.

Permeable Soil

soil that allows water to flow through it easily because the spaces between particles are large and well-connected.

Water

holding Soil - soil that has many small spaces to hold water.

Loam

soil that contains a mixture of sand, silt, and clay grain sizes.

Soil Horizons

the distinct layers that develop in a soil profile, with the top layer undergoing the most weathering and each layer being altered and changed to different degrees.

Topsoil (A horizon)

the darkest layer of soil with the highest proportion of organic material called humus and the most biological activity.

Humus

the decomposed, dark-colored, carbon-rich matter found in topsoil.

Soil Profile

the complete set of soil layers, with each layer called a horizon.

Subsoil (B horizon)

the soil layer where soluble minerals and clay accumulate; it is lighter brown and holds more water than topsoil but contains less organic material.

C horizon

the soil layer that is relatively unweathered or deeply weathered, with little to no humus accumulation or soil structure development.

Land Use

the human management, development, and utilization of land.

DANGERS AND MANAGEMENT OF THE LITHOSPHERE

Noise Pollution

harmful or annoying levels of noise, defined by the WHO as noise above 65 decibels (dB).

Noise Induced Hearing Loss (NIHL)

hearing loss caused by exposure to loud sounds or noise pollution.

Echolocation

a biological sonar used by marine mammals to communicate, navigate, feed, and find mates.

Waste Composition

the categorization of types of materials found in municipal solid waste.

Hazardous Waste

waste with properties that make it dangerous or capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the environment.

The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA)

a framework established for the proper management of hazardous waste.

Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003)

a Philippine law that emphasizes waste reduction, segregation, recycling, and proper disposal.

Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs)

facilities established in every barangay or cluster for the processing of recyclable materials.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022

a Philippine law that requires large companies to manage the plastic packaging waste of their products.