plate tectonics

what type of science is earth science

integrated science

what are earths characteristics

rocky sphere

¾ covered by water

thin layer of gases (atm)

there is a lot of -ology that studies what

earf

which science is the broadest that studies earth

geology

what are earths compositional layers

crust

mantle

core

elements of the crust

thin and brittle

ROCKS RICH IN SILICON AND OXYGEN

CONTINENTAL CRUST IS GRANITE, OCEANIC BASALT

elements of the mantle

thick layer of hot rock

85% of earths mass and 65% volume

much denser than crust

2900 km thick

elements of the core

HUGE BALL OF HOT METAL

mostly iron with some nickel

radius 3500 km

most knowledge comes from seismology

what are earths structural layers

lithosphere

asthenosphere

lower mantle

outercore

inner core

lithosphere characteristics

includes crust and upper mantle

thickest below continents

broken into tectonic plates

asthenosphere char

MANTLE ROCK- SEMI MELT

soft and flows slowly, plastic!

lower mantle char

strong, rigid mantle rock

outer core char

hot LIQUID metal

creates seismic field around earth to protect from solar wind

inner core char

mostly iron

SOLID ROCK

IS THE SEAFLOOR FLAT

NO!

examples of underwater landforms

canyons, trenches, volcanoes

what is the largest underwater landform

mid atlantic ridge

-forms islands, including iceland

-center of a ridge is a rift

what is seafloor spreading

mid all ridge is two plates apart, hole for magma, cools, forms new ocean floor- NEW LITHOSPHERE

-long, deep troughs in the seafloor (usually near continents)

what are the types of plays boundaries

convergent

divergent

transfrom

convergent boundaries

plates move together

destruction of lithosphere

types of subduction zones

oceanic oceanic- older subducts, earthquake (island)

oceanic continental- ocean subducts, vol mnt chain

continental continental- neither subduction, Himalayas

divergent boundaries

plates move away

usually seafloor, sometimes continent

-east African rift zone

transform boundaries

slide past each other

lithosphere conserves

FAULTS- crack that divides two blocks of rocks that have moved relative to each other

friction so great plates can get stuck

-earthquakes