The Layers of the Earth

© Copyright 2006.  M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.

 The Layers of the Earth

1. The Chemical Layers

2. The Mechanical Layers

1. The Chemical Layers
1. Crust
– Continental
– Oceanic
2. Mantle
– Upper
– Middle
– Lower
3. Core
– Outer
– Inner
 The Crust

• The Earth's Crust is like the skin of an apple.

• It is very thin in comparison to the other three layers.
• 3-5 miles (8 km) thick under the oceans (oceanic crust)
• 25 miles (32 km) thick under the continents (continental
crust)
• The crust is composed of two rocks.
• The continental crust is mostly Granite.
• The oceanic crust is Basalt.
• Basalt is much denser than the granite.
• Because of this the less dense continents ride on the
denser oceanic plates
 MOHOROVIC DISCONTINUITY - MOHO

• It is a Layer between crust and mantle

• Sharp velocity increase in seismic wave travel times
at a depth of about 30km
• The “Moho” separates the crust from the mantle
 What is the Mohorovic Discontinuity?

• In geology the word "discontinuity" is used for a

surface at which seismic waves change velocity.
• One of these surfaces exists at an average depth of
 8km beneath the ocean basin
 32 km beneath the continents.
• At this discontinuity, seismic waves accelerate.
• This surface is known as the Mohorovicic
Discontinuity or often simply referred to as the
"Moho".
 The Mantle
The Mantle is the largest layer of the
Earth at 2900 km thick.
• The layer above the outer core is the
mantle.
• A very thin layer called the Gutenberg
Discontinuity separates the mantle and
the core.
• A very thin layer called the
Mohorovicic Discontinuity separates
the mantle and the crust.
• The very upper mantle is rigid and is
considered part of the lithosphere. It
has a temperature from 870oC.
The Mantle
• The rest of the upper mantle is the Asthenosphere it is
thick, and is a semi-solid.
• It has the ability to flow.
• It has the property of plasticity (like ooblek).
• The lower mantle is more rigid it is a solid due to the
increase in pressure. It is filled with magma. It has a
temperature that reaches 2,200oC .
• The mantle contains the elements silicon, oxygen, iron and
magnesium.
• Both pressure and density increase as you go deeper into
the mantle.
 Mechanical layers of Earth

1. Lithosphere
2. Asthenosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Outer core
5. Inner core
 1. The Lithosphere

• Crust +upper layer of the

mantle = Lithosphere.
• Rigid & brittle rocks
• Thickness =10 to 200 km.
 The Lithospheric Plates

The plates "float" on the soft, semi-rigid Asthenosphere

2. The Asthenosphere

• The asthenosphere is the

semi-rigid part of the
middle mantle that flows
like hot asphalt under a
heavy weight.
• Rigid lithospheric plates
"float" on a partially
molten layer of
asthenosphere.
• S- and P-waves can travel
through it
2. The Asthenosphere

• The Asthenosphere "flows" because of

convection currents.
• Convection currents are caused by the
very hot material at the deepest part of
the mantle rising, then cooling and
sinking again --repeating this cycle over
and over
3. Mesosphere.
• At a depth of 660 km,
pressure becomes so
great that the mantle
can no longer flow,
and this solid part of
the mantle is called
the Mesosphere.
 Remember that!!

• The lithospheric mantle, Asthenosphere, and

mesosphere all share the same composition (that of
peridotite), but their mechanical properties are
significantly different.

• Geologists often refer to the asthenosphere as the

jelly in between two pieces of bread: the lithosphere
and mesosphere
4. The Outer Core

The core of the Earth

is like a ball of very
hot metals. The
outer core is so
hot that the metals in
it are all in the liquid
state. The outer core
is composed of the
melted metals of
nickel and iron.
5. The Inner Core

The inner core of

the Earth has
temperatures and
pressures so great that
the metals are
squeezed together and
are not able to move
about like a liquid, but
are forced to vibrate in
place like a solid.
• How far have scientists drilled into the
earth?

 7.6 miles
• Only 0.2% of the distance to the earth’s core
 How do we know so much about
what’s under Earth’s surface?
• Through INDIRECT EVIDENCE, mostly
from seismic waves caused by earthquakes
• Sometimes indirect evidence is the only option
for scientists to develop a theory
 Practice Quiz Question
• Can you label the following layers?
Ancient mantle rock exposed at the surface.
SUMMMARY
The Chemical Layers The Mechanical Layers

1. Crust
– Continental 1. Lithosphere
– Oceanic
2. Mantle
2. Asthenosphere
– Upper 3. Mesosphere
– Middle
4. Outer core
– Lower
3. Core 5. Inner core
– Outer
– Inner