Geomorphology 11

Š Outer Core:
» Thickness: It is about 2,200km thick.
» Temperature: It ranges between 4,500° and 5,500 degrees Celsius.
» Density: It is between 12.6-13 g/cm3.
» The outer core is presumed to be liquid.
Š Inner Core:
» Composition: It is mainly composed of iron.
» Temperature: It is about 5,200° Celsius.
» The inner core is assessed as solid.
» Density: It is between 9.9-12.2 g/cm3

List of Seismic Discontinuities

Name of Seismic Discontinuity Transition Between
Conrad Discontinuity SIAL and SIMA
Mohorovicic Discontinuity Crust and Mantle
Repiti Discontinuity Outer Mantle and Inner Mantle
Gutenberg Discontinuity Mantle and Core
Lehman Discontinuity Outer Core and Inner Core

TEMPERATURE, PRESSURE AND DENSITY OF THE EARTH’S INTERIOR

TEMPERATURE
• There is a rise in temperature with increasing depth. However, the rate of increase is not uniform.
• Geothermal Gradient: The change in the earth’s temperature with depth is called the geothermal gradient.
• Sources of Heat:
Š The frictional heat leftover from the collisions of large and small particles that created Earth
Š The decay of radioactive materials

PRESSURE
• The pressure is due to the huge weight of the overlying rocks.
• The pressure increases with increasing depth.
• The pressure at the centre of the earth is 364 GPa (Gigapascals).

DENSITY
• The density increases with increasing depth.
• The density of the core ranges between 9.5-14.5g/cm3.

EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD

• Source of Earth’s Magnetic Field: The liquid outer core
• Geodynamo: Driven by the earth’s rotation and convective forces, metallic minerals are continuously moved within the
core, generating huge electric currents. The process is called geodynamo. It is responsible for creating and maintaining
the earth’s magnetic field.

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