Physical Geology - Earth's Interior

A set of flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to Earth's interior as studied in physical geology.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, comprising the crust and uppermost mantle, approximately 100 km thick.

Asthenosphere

The layer beneath the lithosphere, characterized by a solid yet mobile state, found in the upper mantle.

Crust

The outermost layer of the Earth, made up of low density rock, with a thickness ranging from 7 to 70 km.

Mantle

The layer of the Earth located beneath the crust, composed of high-density rock and extending to a depth of 2890 km.

Outer Core

The liquid layer of the Earth's core, consisting primarily of iron and nickel, situated between the mantle and the inner core.

Inner Core

The solid innermost layer of the Earth, primarily composed of iron and nickel, located beneath the outer core.

Seismic Waves

Waves of energy released during an earthquake, propagating through the Earth and providing information on its internal structure.

P Waves (Primary Waves)

Seismic waves that can travel through both solids and liquids, faster than S waves.

S Waves (Secondary Waves)

Seismic waves that can only travel through solids and are slower than P waves.

Moho (Mohorovicic Discontinuity)

The boundary between the Earth's crust and the underlying mantle, characterized by an increase in seismic wave velocity.

Geothermal Gradient

The rate at which temperature increases with depth into the Earth's interior.

Seismic Refraction

The bending of seismic waves as they pass from one medium to another with different density and elasticity.

Conduction

Heat transfer through direct contact of molecules or atoms.

Convection

Heat transfer through the movement of fluids, where hot (less dense) material rises and cooler (more dense) material sinks.

Geophysical Properties

Characteristics of Earth materials, such as density, composition, and temperature that influence seismic wave behavior.