10 Geography: Static Revision Simplified

Surface Waves
• They are the last to reach the earth’s surface.
• Only affect the surface of the earth and act obliquely.
• Most violent and destructive of all seismic waves.
Types of Surface Waves
• Loves Waves: It is the fastest surface wave. It moves the ground from side to side.
• Rayleigh waves: These waves roll over the ground like waves in oceans or seas. This causes the ground to move in
an elliptical motion.

STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH

Crust
• It is the uppermost and thinnest layer of the Earth.
• Divisions of Crust:
Š Upper Crust:
Š It is granitic and forms the continental landmasses.
Š It is primarily composed of silica and alumina and is called “sial.
Š Lower Crust:
Š It is a continuous zone of dense basaltic rocks that forms the ocean floors.
Š It is mainly composed of silica and magnesium and is hence commonly referred to as the “sima.”
• Density: The continental crust or the “Sial” is lower in density (2.7g/cm³) as compared to the oceanic crust or the
“Sima”( 3.5g/cm³ ).
• Thickness: The average thickness of the crust below the ocean is 5 km, whereas that of the continent is around 30 km.

Mantle
• It lies between the Earth’s crust and its core.
• Extent: The mantle extends from Moho’s discontinuity to a depth of 2,900 km.
• Density: The density of the mantle is about 4.5 g/cm3.
• Composition: Minerals like pyroxene, olivine, garnet, plagioclase, and amphibolite.
• Divisions of the Mantle:
Š Upper Mantle:
» Depth: It ranges from 403 to 660 km from the crust.
» Temperature: It ranges from 500 to 900 degrees Celsius.
» The upper mantle is more viscous than the lower mantle as there is less pressure than the lower mantle.
Š Lower Mantle:
» Depth: is around 660 to 2,891 km.
» Temperature: the lower mantle is much hotter, reaching 74,000 degrees Celsius.
• Asthenosphere: The upper mantle contains a weaker zone called the asthenosphere. It extends up to 400 to 500 km
from the surface.
Š It is the primary source of magma that flows out to the surface during volcanic eruptions.
• Lithosphere: The crust and the uppermost part of the mantle above the Asthenosphere are collectively called the
Lithosphere.

Core
• Extent: Extends from 2900km to approximately 6371km.
• Composition: The core comprises the heaviest materials like nickel and iron and is called “Nife” (Ni for Nickel and Fe
for iron).
• Division of Core:

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