Wonders of Earth's Layers

Lithosphere

The outermost rigid layer of the earth. It is made of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle. The lithosphere is divided into pieces called tectonic plates. (Litho – means stone or rock & sphere means globe or ball)

Lower Mantle

67% of Earth’s massThe mantle is just above the outer core and below the crust. It is made mostly of silicon, oxygen, magnesium, and iron. The mantle is the largest layer. The mantle is divided into the upper mantle & lower mantle. No one has visited the mantle, scientists know a little about it from studying underwater volcanoes (where the mantle meets the crust).

Earths layers (note: this was the best video I could find)

Mesosphere

Beneath the asthenosphere, it is the strong lower part of the mantle. It reaches from the bottom of the asthenosphere to the Earth’s core

Oceanic Crust

Less than 1% of Earth’s massThe crust is the thinnest, outermost layer of the earth and is mainly solid rock. It is about 100 km thick. The crust has two sections – continental crust & oceanic crust.

Between 35-42 miles thickOxygen Silicon Aluminum Iron – double amount Calcium – double amount Magnesium – double amount

Earths layers

Moho

The Moho discontinuty is 5-10 kilometres below the ocan floor, it is also 20-90 kilometeres beneath contiental crusts.

Outer Core

Above the inner core is the outer core. The outer core is also made mostly of iron.The liquid layer of Earth’s core that is beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core.

Inner Core

33% of Earth’s mass At the center of the earth is the solid inner core. The inner core is made of iron with some nickel and very small amounts of oxygen, silicon, aluminum & magnesium. Solid, dense center of our planet.

Upper Mantle

67% of Earth’s massThe mantle is just above the outer core and below the crust. It is made mostly of silicon, oxygen, magnesium, and iron. The mantle is the largest layer. The mantle is divided into the upper mantle & lower mantle. No one has visited the mantle, scientists know a little about it from studying underwater volcanoes (where the mantle meets the crust).

Continental Crust

Less than 1% of Earth’s massThe crust is the thinnest, outermost layer of the earth and is mainly solid rock. It is about 100 km thick. The crust has two sections – continental crust & oceanic crust.

About 3 miles thickOxygen Silicon Aluminum Iron Calcium Magnesium

Asthenosphere

a layer of mostly solid rock that flows and oozes like a milkshake. The lighter plates of the lithosphere float on the asthenosphere. (Asthenos means “weak”)