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Chapter 4- EArth's Structure

Chapter 4 discusses Earth's structure, focusing on how we understand its interior through seismic waves, volcanic activity, and meteorite studies. It details the composition and characteristics of the lithosphere, mantle, and core, including key discontinuities like the Mohorovicic and Gutenberg. The chapter emphasizes the importance of these layers in understanding Earth's geology and internal processes.

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Aadya Chakraborty
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10 views19 pages

Chapter 4- EArth's Structure

Chapter 4 discusses Earth's structure, focusing on how we understand its interior through seismic waves, volcanic activity, and meteorite studies. It details the composition and characteristics of the lithosphere, mantle, and core, including key discontinuities like the Mohorovicic and Gutenberg. The chapter emphasizes the importance of these layers in understanding Earth's geology and internal processes.

Uploaded by

Aadya Chakraborty
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 4

Earth’s Structure
Introduction

– How do we know about the interior of the earth?


– Is it through historical artifacts, monuments, mountaineering,
hiking or careful excavations?
– Do you agree with the above points?
– If no, then you are on the right path.
– Lets discuss ……
– Study of seismic waves, volcanic eruptions and theories regarding the origin of
the earth are sufficient evidences to understand the interior of the earth.

– In relation to seismic waves, the Primary waves (P-waves)reach the surface of


the earth whereas secondary waves (S-waves) do not pass through any liquid.

– The molten material thrown up by volcanoes also helps us understand the


constituents of material inside the earth.

– Then meteorites are also a great subject for study as the earth is composed of
the same materials like the meteorites.

– Lastly the heat from the interior part of the earth comes from the radioactive
elements inside the earth giving us a glimpse of the heat trapped inside.
Theories on origin of earth
Earth’s structure

– Lithosphere
– Derived from Greek word ‘lithos ’ meaning rock.
– It is the earth’s crust made up of solid hard rocks.
– Consists of important minerals and a layer of soil which is beneficial for the
plant life.
– Crust thickness is around 60 km.
– Made up of large amount of silicates, feldspar and mica etc.
– Broadly divided into SIAL and SIMA
silicates, feldspar and mica

Feldspar
SIAL AND SIMA
NIFE – Nickle and Iron composing the core of the
earth, having high density.
Internal Composition of the
Earth(CMC)
– Crust or Lithosphere

– It is earth’s 1% mass and contains all known life in the universe.

– The Crust is a relatively thin layer when compared with the size of the
earth.

– The temperature of the upper part of the oceanic crust has been estimated
at 0°C

– It rises gradually towards the interior of the earth.


Mantle
– This layer lies below the crust.

– Average thickness- 2900km.

– 84 % of the earth’s total volume is covered up by mantle.

– Mantle is divided into 2 parts- The upper mantle and The lower mantle.

– The upper mantle is cooler and made of solid rocks

– The lower mantle is hotter and denser (solid) due to high pressure.
Asthenosphere(Upper Mantle)
– Around 100- 410 km, the mantle is partially molten known as Asthenosphere.

– It comprises of silica, iron and ultrabasic rocks(Igneous rocks with a very low
silica content and rich in minerals).

– Due to difference in the temperature in this layer, the convective(movement of


energy from one place to another.) currents are set up.

– This causes molten lava to reach the crust of the earth.


Core

– The inaccessible part of the earth due to the temperature ranging from 4400°
C-6000° C.
– The densest part of the earth.
– The 2 main divisions are Outer Core and Inner Core.
– The core comprises of iron and nickel responsible for earth’s magnetism.
– The S-waves disappear in the outer core due to the molten state.
– The inner core is solid due to high density and pressure.
Gutenberg Discontinuity/Mantle
Core Interface(Lower Mantle)
– The Gutenberg discontinuity occurs within Earth's interior at a
depth of about 2,900 km below the surface, where there is an
abrupt change in the seismic waves (generated by earthquakes or
explosions) that travel through Earth.
– The Gutenberg discontinuity was named after Beno Gutenberg
(1889-1960) a seismologist who made several important
contributions to the study and understanding of the Earth's
interior.
– Dense due to the greater amount of iron.
Mohorovicic Discontinuity
– What is the Mohorovičić Discontinuity?
– The Mohorovicic Discontinuity, or "Moho," is the boundary between the crust and
the mantle.
– At this discontinuity, seismic waves accelerate. This surface is known as the
Mohorovicic Discontinuity or often simply referred to as the "Moho."

– 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 8 kilometers
beneath the ocean basin and at an average depth of about 32 kilometers beneath
the continents.

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