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

2. Earth as a System

3. Earth as a System
Geosphere:

4. 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

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

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

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

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

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

10. Physical Layers of Earth

11. Lithosphere
Earth’s outer layer
Cool, rigid

12. Asthenosphere
Layer beneath the lithosphere
Flows slowly

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

14. Outer Core
Outer shell of Earth’s core
Liquid

15. Inner Core
Innermost layer of Earth
Solid
Very hot

16. Discovering Earth’s Interior

18. Major Features of the Earth’s Crust and Upper Mantle

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

20. The Earth’s Major Tectonic Plates

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

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

25. Continental/Continental: https://www. geolsoc. org
Continental/ Oceanic:
Oceanic/Oceanic:

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

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

30. Mantle Convection

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

32. Paleomagnestism

33. Paleomagnestism