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The Internal Structure of the Earth

The document outlines the internal structure of the Earth, detailing the three main layers: the crust, mantle, and core. It explains the composition, temperature, and characteristics of each layer, including the lithosphere and asthenosphere, as well as the processes that drive tectonic plate movement. Additionally, it discusses primordial and radiogenic heat as sources of internal energy within the Earth.

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Marjorie Madenancil
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9 views17 pages

The Internal Structure of the Earth

The document outlines the internal structure of the Earth, detailing the three main layers: the crust, mantle, and core. It explains the composition, temperature, and characteristics of each layer, including the lithosphere and asthenosphere, as well as the processes that drive tectonic plate movement. Additionally, it discusses primordial and radiogenic heat as sources of internal energy within the Earth.

Uploaded by

Marjorie Madenancil
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The internal

structure of the
earth
The Crust
 Isthe thinnest layer but the most rigid of the
three.
 Itcan be divided into the CONTINENTAL
CRUST, where it is thicker averaging about
30km.
 The OCEANIC CRUST, where it is thinner
averaging about 5km.
The Mantle
 Is composed of semi-solid rock.
 Thus, it is hotter and denser than the crust.
 The temperature in this layer is about 1, 000 degrees Celsius.
 It is about 2, 890 km and contains larger amounts of IRON,
MAGNESIUM, and CALCIUM.
 It has an upper layer and lower layer.
 Heat generated from the core rises into the mantle via
convection current.
 In convection, the hotter materials expands and rises while the
cooler sinks.
The Core
 The center of the planet.
 It is two times denser than the mantle because of the metallic
composition (an alloy of Fe and Ni)
 The Liquid core is about 2, 200 km thick while the solid inner core
is about 1, 250 km.
 Since the earth is rotating , the liquid outer core is also spinning,
and this generates the Earth’s magnetic field.
 The outer core has a temperature of about 3, 700 degrees Celsius,
while the inner core, an estimated of 6, 000 degrees Celsius.
The uppermost solid mantle and
crust make up the lithosphere
layer of the planet.

This is a much rigid layer and is


broken down into large pieces
called tectonic plates.
Below the lithosphere is the
ASTHENOSPHERE, a narrow but
mobile layer composed of hot, semi-
solid material that can flow due to
high pressure and temperature.

The tectonic plates “float” or rest on


top of the asthenosphere.
PRIMORDIAL HEAT
 Duringthe early formation of the Earth, the
internal energy that gradually gathered
together means of dispersion in the planet
during its few million years of evolution.
 The major contribution of this internal heat is
the ACCRETIONAL ENERGY, which is the
energy deposited during the early formation
of a planet.
RADIOGENIC HEAT
 Thermal energy released as a result of
spontaneous nuclear disintegration.
 Itinvolves the disintegration of natural
radiogenic elements inside the Earth – like
Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium.
WHY DO THE PLATES MOVE,
ALBEIT VERY SLOWLY?
CONVECTION CURRENT occurring in
the mantle moves the tectonic plates
above the asthenosphere in various
directions resulting in the geological
events observed and experienced at
the upper crustal level.
FLOW OF MATTER AND
ENERGY
 BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES include
CARBON CYCLE, NITROGEN CYCLE,
NITROGEN CYCLE, OXYGEN CYCLE,
GASEOUS CYCLE, SULFUR CYCLE<
PHOSPHOROUS CYCLE< SEDIMENTARY
CYCLE, and HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE

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