"The internal structure of Earth is the solid portion of the Earth, excluding its atmosphere and hydrosphere."
Understanding the layered structure and composition of the Earth and how it affects geologic processes.
Seismology: The study of seismic waves and their behavior as they pass through the Earth's various layers.
Geochronology: The study of Earth history and the processes that have shaped it, including the ages and timing of events.
Plate tectonics: The study of large-scale features and movements of the Earth's rigid outer shell, including plate boundaries, earthquakes, and volcanoes.
Mineralogy: The study of Earth's minerals and their properties.
Petrology: The study of rocks and their formation, including sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks.
Geomagnetism: The study of Earth's magnetic field and how it is generated by the movement of molten iron in the core.
Gravity and density: The study of how gravity affects different parts of the Earth and how density variations may influence plate tectonics.
Heat transfer: The study of how heat is transferred through the different layers of the Earth and how it contributes to volcanic activity and other geologic processes.
Geophysics: The use of physics to study the Earth's interior, including the use of seismic tomography to map the sub-surface.
Earthquakes and seismic hazards: The study of the causes and effects of earthquakes, including their relationship to plate tectonics and the potential for seismic hazards.
Volcanology: The study of volcanoes and their behavior, including the types of eruptions and their impact on the Earth's surface.
Geodynamics: The study of the forces that shape the Earth's surface and how they interact with the interior, including plate tectonics and mantle convection.
Geothermal energy: The study of the Earth's internal heat as a potential source of energy, including the exploration and exploitation of geothermal resources.
Earth's core: The study of the Earth's innermost layers, including the solid inner core and the liquid outer core, and their properties and behavior.
Earth's mantle: The study of the Earth's middle layer, including its composition, convection patterns, and impact on plate tectonics.
Crust: The thin, outermost layer of the Earth's surface that varies in thickness from 5 to 70 kilometers.
Mantle: The layer below the crust that extends to a depth of about 2,900 kilometers. It is made up of dense rocks and is divided into the upper mantle, the transition zone, and the lower mantle.
Outer Core: The layer of the Earth's interior that extends from a depth of about 2,900 to 5,100 kilometers. It is made up of liquid iron and nickel and is responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field.
Inner Core: The innermost layer of the Earth that extends from a depth of about 5,100 to 6,371 kilometers. It is made up of solid iron and nickel and is the hottest layer of the Earth's interior, with temperatures reaching up to 5,500 degrees Celsius.
Lithosphere: The rigid, outermost layer of the Earth's surface that includes the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.
Asthenosphere: The layer of the mantle that lies just below the lithosphere and is partially molten. It is thought to play an important role in the movement of tectonic plates.
Mesosphere: The layer of the mantle that lies just below the asthenosphere and extends to a depth of about 660 kilometers.
D'' region: The layer located at the boundary between the outer and inner core. It is believed to be the source of some of the Earth's volcanic activity.
Transitional Zone: The region of the mantle that lies between the upper and lower mantle. It is characterized by a sharp increase in the density of the rocks.
Low Velocity Zone: The layer of the mantle just above the core that is characterized by slower seismic wave velocities. It is thought to be caused by the presence of partial melting or high temperatures.
Upper Asthenosphere: A layer of the mantle that is thought to be partially molten and is located just below the lithosphere. It is believed to play a role in the movement of tectonic plates.
Mid Mantle: A region of the mantle that is located between the upper and lower mantle and extends to a depth of about 1,500 kilometers.
Lower Mantle: The region of the mantle that lies just above the core and extends to a depth of about 2,900 kilometers. It is characterized by high pressure and temperatures.
Mesosphere-Gushchina: A layer of the mantle located between the mesosphere and the lower mantle. It is characterized by an increase in the density of the rocks.
Gutenberg Discontinuity: A boundary between the mantle and the core that is characterized by a sharp increase in the density of the rocks. It is named after the German seismologist who discovered it.
"The structure consists of an outer silicate solid crust, a highly viscous asthenosphere and solid mantle, a liquid outer core whose flow generates the Earth's magnetic field, and a solid inner core."
"Scientific understanding of the internal structure of Earth is based on observations of topography and bathymetry, observations of rock in outcrop, samples brought to the surface from greater depths by volcanoes or volcanic activity, analysis of the seismic waves that pass through Earth, measurements of the gravitational and magnetic fields of Earth, and experiments with crystalline solids at pressures and temperatures characteristic of Earth's deep interior."
"The structure consists of an outer silicate solid crust..."
"...a highly viscous asthenosphere and solid mantle..."
"...a liquid outer core whose flow generates the Earth's magnetic field..."
"...a solid inner core."
"Scientific understanding of the internal structure of Earth is based on observations of topography and bathymetry..."
"Scientific understanding of the internal structure of Earth is based on observations of rock in outcrop..."
"...samples brought to the surface from greater depths by volcanoes or volcanic activity..."
"Analysis of the seismic waves that pass through Earth..."
"...measurements of the gravitational and magnetic fields of Earth..."
"...experiments with crystalline solids at pressures and temperatures characteristic of Earth's deep interior."
"...a liquid outer core whose flow generates the Earth's magnetic field..."
"The structure consists of an outer silicate solid crust..."
"...a highly viscous asthenosphere..."
"...a highly viscous asthenosphere and solid mantle..."
"...a liquid outer core whose flow generates the Earth's magnetic field..."
"...a solid inner core."
"...experiments with crystalline solids at pressures and temperatures characteristic of Earth's deep interior."