Earth as a System Scientists divided this system into four parts: The Geosphere (rock) The Atmosphere (air) The Hydrosphere (water) The Biosphere (living things)

Earth as a System

Earth as a System Geosphere:

The Earth Is a Dynamic Planet What is geology? Three major concentric zones of the earth Core Mantle Crust Continental crust Oceanic crust: 71% of crust

Compositional Layers of Earth Earth is divided into three compositional layers Crust Mantle Core Crust Mantle Core

Crust Earth’s outermost layer Composed almost entirely of light elements Thinnest layer

Mantle The layer beneath the crust Made of rocks of medium density

Core Earth’s innermost layer Composed of dense elements 3,428 km radius

Physical Layers of Earth Earth is divided into five physical layers Lithosphere Asthenosphere Mesosphere Outer Core Inner Core

Physical Layers of Earth

Lithosphere Earth’s outer layer Cool, rigid

Asthenosphere Layer beneath the lithosphere Flows slowly

Mesosphere “Middle layer” of Earth The lower part of the mantle

Outer Core Outer shell of Earth’s core Liquid

Inner Core Innermost layer of Earth Solid Very hot

Discovering Earth’s Interior

Major Features of the Earth’s Crust and Upper Mantle

The Earth Beneath Your Feet Is Moving Tectonic plates – pieces the lithosphere is divided into Plates move on the asthenosphere

The Earth’s Major Tectonic Plates

The Earth Beneath Your Feet Is Moving (2) Three types of boundaries between plates Divergent plates Magma Oceanic ridge

The Earth Beneath Your Feet Is Moving (2) Three types of boundaries between plates Convergent plates Subduction Subduction zone Trench

Continental/Continental: https://www. geolsoc. org Continental/ Oceanic: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Plate-Tectonics/Chap3-Plate-Margins/Convergent/Oceanic-continental Oceanic/Oceanic: https://www.geolsoc.org.uk/Plate-Tectonics/Chap3-Plate-Margins/Convergent/Oceanic-oceanic-collision

The Earth Beneath Your Feet Is Moving (2) Three types of boundaries between plates Transform fault; e.g., San Andreas fault

The Earth’s Crust Is Made Up of a Mosaic of Huge Rigid Plates: Tectonic Plates

Mantle Convection https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryrXAGY1dmE

The San Andreas Fault as It Crosses Part of the Carrizo Plain in California, U.S.

Paleomagnestism

Paleomagnestism