unit 9 inside the earth

spheres inside the earth

spheres inside the earth

Layers within the Earth that include the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.

Can also be lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, inner core

lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. It is broken into tectonic plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere.

crust

earth’s thinnest and outermost layer

includes oceanic crust and continental crust

oceanic crust

The Earth's crust that underlies the oceans. It is thinner, denser, and younger than continental crust.

continental crust

The outermost layer of the Earth's surface. It is thicker and less dense than the oceanic crust.

aesthenosphere

The layer of the Earth's mantle beneath the lithosphere, characterized by its semi-fluid and plastic-like behavior. It is responsible for the movement of tectonic plates.

This is where convection occurs.

convection

the circular motion as hot rock rises and cooler rock sinks.

Happens in the aesthenosphere

planetary differentiation

The process by which heavier elements sink towards the center of a planet, while lighter elements rise towards the surface, creating distinct layers with different compositions and densities.

outer core

Layer of the Earth located just deeper than the mantle. Composed of liquid iron and nickel. Movement of liquid metals are responsible for generating Earth's magnetic field.

earth’s magnetic field

protects us from the sun’s harmful radiation

generated by the outer core

inner core

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

The inner core is the hottest layer.

It is solid because it’s under intense pressure.

tectonic plates

Large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other, causing earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountains.

divergent boundary

A tectonic plate boundary where plates move away from each other. It results in the formation of new crust due to the upwelling of magma from the mantle. Common features include mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.

convergent boundary

Type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates collide, causing compression and the formation of mountains, earthquakes, and volcanic activity.

oceanic-continental convergence

The denser oceanic plate subducts beneath the less dense continental plate, forming a subduction zone. This leads to the formation of volcanic mountain ranges and trenches, along with earthquakes and tsunamis.

oceanic-oceanic convergence

when two oceanic plates collide, one is forced beneath the other in a process called subduction. This forms deep ocean trenches and volcanic island arcs.

continental-continental convergence

When two continental plates collide. This collision creates intense pressure and leads to the formation of mountains.

Little to no subduction occurs

subduction

The process where one tectonic plate is forced beneath another plate into the Earth's mantle. It occurs at convergent boundaries, leading to the formation of trenches, volcanic activity, and the recycling of old crust.

transform boundary

A type of tectonic plate boundary where two plates slide past each other horizontally. It can result in earthquakes as the plates grind against each other.

earthquakes

Sudden shaking of the ground caused by the release of energy in the Earth's crust. Generally caused by tectonic plate activity, at plate boundary. Measured using the Richter scale. Can cause damage to buildings, landslides, and tsunamis.

hotspot

An area where magma rises from the mantle, creating volcanic activity on the Earth's surface. Hotspots stay still while tectonic plates move above them, resulting in a chain of volcanic islands or seamounts. One example is the Hawaiian Islands.

rift valley

a gap between diverging continental plates

mid-atlantic ridge

an enormous mountain range at the bottom of the Atlantic ocean. Created by diverging oceanic plates.

boundaries that don’t form volcanoes

what do transform and continental-continental convergent have in common

seafloor spreading

Process of oceanic crust formation and movement where molten material rises from the mantle, creating new crust at mid-ocean ridges. As the crust spreads apart, older rocks move away, making room for new ones.

ocean basin formation

Process of ocean basin formation involves seafloor spreading, where new crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and moves apart. As the crust spreads, magma rises and cools, forming new oceanic crust.