Layers of the Earth
The outermost layer of the Earth, composed primarily of light rocks containing elements such as silica and aluminum.
What is the crust?
The process of a liquid changing to a gas.
What is evaporation?
A type of seismic wave that travels through both liquid and solid states of matter.
What is a P-wave (primary wave)?
An invisible field around Earth created by convection currents from the outer core that protect the surface of the Earth from solar winds and UV radiation.
What is Earth's magnetic field?
An extremely dense and hot layer of Earth made of almost pure iron; it remains solid due to it's extreme pressure.
What is the inner core?
Blue-green bacteria that photosynthesized; they produced enough O2 to change the chemistry of the atmosphere and oceans.
What are cyanobacteria?
A type of seismic wave that travels through solid states of matter only.
What is an s-wave (secondary wave)?
The relatively thicker part of Earth's crust that makes up landmasses.
What is continental crust?
The layer of Earth made primarily of liquid iron and nickel; the convection currents it creates is responsible for Earth's magnetic field.
What is the outer core?
An explosion of evolution (540-485 MYA) that led to much life and rapid diversification.
What is the Cambrian Explosion?
What is solar wind?
Material that moves from one area via water, wind, or other forces then settles in another area.
What is sediment?
The thinner, denser part of Earth's crust that make up the oceans basins.
What is oceanic crust?
A layer of O3 molecules in the atmosphere that prevent Earth's surface from experiencing harmful UV radiation levels.
What is the ozone?
All the solid, non-living parts of Earth, including rocks, minerals, soil, and landmasses.
What is the geosphere?
Part of the upper mantle; this area is solid but moves like liquid, and tectonic plates move on top of it.
What is the Asthenosphere?
The layer of Earth that comprises 70% of its entire volume; it is solid and varies in density.
What is the Mantle?
Many organisms (including cyanobacteria) use this process to to make food using sunlight, releasing oxygen as a byproduct.
What is photosynthesis?
The process of planets separating into layers by density due to gravity, with heavy things sinking to the middle while lighter things stay towards the surface.
What is differentiation?
Earth's brittle outer shell; it contains the crust (both continental and oceanic layers) and the upper part of the mantle, all of which is very rocky.
What is the lithosphere?