Earth Layers

Earth Layers Table

Layers of Earth Average Depth Approximate Description

(km) temperature (°C)
Crust (Lithosphere) 15 0 The uppermost layer
Upper mantle 410 840 The lower part of the
(Lithosphere) lithosphere
Asthenosphere 660 / Zone where mantle rock is most
fluid
Lower mantle 2900 3700 Largest part of Earth's interior
Outer core (Core) 5100 3700 Liquid iron
Inner core (Core) 6400 5000 Solid iron

Layering of the Earth

Earth Layers
Core
The core has two layers, the outer core and inner core. They are both mostly made of iron,
but the outer core is a liquid while the inner core is a solid. Scientists found out that the
outer core wasn’t a solid by observing S-waves. Rotation of the inner core and convection
in the outer core cause powerful electric currents that create Earth's magnetic field. This
magnetic field protects our planet from harmful solar system. For this reason, if core
movement stopped... Our life on Earth would be in great danger!

Inner Core
The inner core is the deepest part of the core. It’s made of solid iron and its average depth
is 6400 km. The average temperature of the inner core
is the lowest in all the Earth layers. The inner core creates the magnetic field which
protects the Earth from sun rays.

Outer Core
The outer core is the upper part of the core and is made of liquid iron. Its average depth is
5100 km.
Crust
The crust is the outermost layer of the earth and the upper part of the lithosphere. Its
average depth is 15 km and is constituted by Oceanic crust
and continental crust. Oceanic crust is mostly made of basalt while Continental crust is
mostly made of andesite and granite. The density of the
materials in oceanic crust is higher than the materials in the continental crust. Known by a
fact, as denser materials settle toward the center, less
dense materials rose toward the surface. This verifies the continental crust is above the
oceanic crust and tells us that the rock in the crust has low density. The rock in the crust is
also cold, and thus and breaks easily.

crust

Lithosphere
The lithosphere is the solid outer section of Earth that includes both the crust and the
upper mantle. The lithosphere sits at 425 km below the
surface and it floats on asthenosphere. Pieces of the lithosphere are called lithospheric
plates. These plates move over the asthenosphere (in the lithosphere). The movement of
these plates shapes our oceans and continents. Plate tectonics is a theory that explains
how and why these plates
move and form. Subduction is a process that involves a lithospheric plate that sinks down
to the mantle, because of the temperature and density.
High density and high-temperature materials sink to the lower part of the Earth, low
density and low-temperature materials rise to the upper part
of the Earth.
Mantle
The mantle is between the crust and Earth’s core. It concludes the upper mantle,
asthenosphere, and lower mantle. Which shows that it’s the
thickest layer and makes up nearly half of the Earth’s diameter. The high heat of the
mantle causes the rock of the mantle to be solid. The mantle
rock flows in big, hot, slow currents that have been in motion for millions of years. For
example, mantle plume is a mantle rock.

Upper mantle
The upper mantle is below the crust, the lower part of the lithosphere, and the upper part
of the mantle. Its average depth is 410 km and is mostly
made of solid.

Asthenosphere (Part of Upper Mantle)

The Asthenosphere is between the upper and lower mantle. Its average depth is 600 km.
The mantle rocks in this zone are the most fluid and can
be described as soft and weak.

Lower Mantle
The lower mantle is the lower part of the mantle and the largest part of Earth’s interior. Its
average depth is 2900 km. Convection is a cycle of
different heat materials transferring takes place in this layer. Its position is down to the
core and under the lithosphere. Mantle plumes are heated lower mantle rocks that rise
toward the outer part of the Earth. Sometimes, a single plume can cause a volcanic
eruption. If the eruption is strong and lasts for a long time, the volcanic eruption might
form a volcanic island on the plate. After islands form, the plate moves and carries the
plumes away from the hot spot. If the high heat under the mantle plume doesn't assist,
then the volcano that formed the island will become dormant or
extinct. At the same time, a new volcano will start to form on the part of the plate that is
now over the hot spot.
Convection Currents

Convection currents is the transfer of heat by the mass movement of heated particles into
an area of cooler fluid. It takes place in the lower mantle. The cycle of the convection is
basically the material in the mantle rising to the lithosphere because of the high heat of the
core, and the mantle materials cooling down, sinking back to the core. The mass of
the mantle material doesn't change, but the volume increases.

Convection Current and Density

Convection current is related to the density of substances. In the convection, less dense
materials float on more dense materials. This means heated materials will rise toward the
lithosphere, because of their low density. Since this happens, a convection current
develops.

Seismic Waves and Earth's Interior

Seismic waves are special vibrations that travel through earth using wave motion. Wave
motion is a process or a way that transfers energy from a disturbance point to a remote
location. Seismic waves have indicated the structure of Earth’s interior and are caused by
events like earthquakes or human-blade blasts. There are two types of seismic waves that
are important for studying Earth’s interior. They are called primary waves and secondary
waves, or P-waves and S-waves. P-waves travel faster than S-waves and move with a back
and forth motion. Slower S-waves move with a yaw motion. S-waves cannot pass through
liquids, but P-waves can pass through both solids and liquids. By studying the movements
of the two waves, scientists were able to make a detailed model of Earth’s interior.