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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.
