Earth's Layers

Compositional Layers are sparated by

chemical composition

Mechanical Layers are separated based on

their processes, how they respond to stress and their physical properties

oceanic crust thickness

5-10 km

continental crust thickness

5-75 km

Mantle thickness

2900 km

Mantle composition

ultramafic, Iron Magnesium rich rocks (periodotite)

Core thickness

3500 km

Lithosphere is

a brittle rigid solid broken up into tectonic plates, and the movement of the plates cause significant changes in Earth's geologic structure

Lithosphere thickness

5-100 km

Lithosphere density

2.7-3.4 g/cm³

Lithosphere Temperature

0 to 500 celcius

Asthenosphere is

Rocks on the verge of melting but due to high pressure they behave in a ductile manner (Moves like melted plastic)

Asthenosphere thickness

100-200 km

Asthenosphere density

3.4-4.3 g/cm³

Asthenosphere temperature

1300 celcius

Mesosphere

transfers heat from the inner and outer core to the upper layers

Mesosphere thickness

2250 km

Mesosphere density

4.4-5.6 g/cm³

Mesosphere temperature

1700-3000 celcius

Outer core thickness

2200-2250 km

outer core density

9.9-12.2 g/cm³

outer core temperature

4000-5000 celcius

outer core convection

Difference in temperature of the outer core's boudaries causes a convection current to form, which generates Earth's magnetic field.

inner core thickness

1220-1270 km

inner core density

12.8-13.1 g/cm³

Inner core temperature

5000-6000 celcius

What is the significance of Earth's magnetic field?

The significance of Earth's magnetic field is that it deflects harful solar winds which creates conditions for life to survive in