Earths Structure

Origin of the Earth

Meteors and Asteroids
bombarded the Earth

Gravitational compression

Density Stratified planet

Earths Interior
Core

dense
Iron and Nickel
Inner Core - solid
Outer Core - liquid

Mantle

Less dense than core

Iron and Magnesium silicates
Mostly solid
Upper mantle is partially mol

Crust

Outermost layer
Very thin and rigid
Continental granite
Density = 2.8 g/cm3
Oceanic basalt
Density = 3.0 g/cm3

Evidence of Internal Structure

Density
calculate density of Earth
Speculate on probable compositions
Meteorites
Use composition and age to
determine composition and
age of Earth
Seismic waves
Travel times and direction
give indication of internal
structure of Earth

Granite
Basalt

Types of Seismic Waves

P waves
Primary waves
Push and pull movement
Travel fastest (~ 6 km/sec)
Travel thru solids and liquids

S waves
Secondary waves
Move side-to-side
Slower (~ 4 km/sec)
Travel thru solids only

Seismic Waves Through Earth

Lithosphere
Consists of continental,
oceanic and upper part
of mantle

Continents composed of
granite-type rock, quartz and
feldspar minerals,
density+2.8g/cm3
Oceanic crust formed of
basalt; basalt rich in
iron/magnesium minerals,
density+3.0 g/cm3
Lithosphere is rigid layer of
crust and mantle overlying
partially-molten
asthenosphere

Continental Drift Evidence

Researchers noted geographic fit of continents
e.g. Africa and S. America
Atlantic formed by separation of Africa from S.
America
Seuss, 1885, proposed super continent by studying
fossils, rocks, mountains
Wegener and Taylor, early 1900s, proposed
continental drift and Pangaea
Evidence supporting the idea that the continents had
drifted.
drifted
Geographic fit of continents

Fossils
Mountains
Glaciation

Continental Drift
Geographic Fit

Continents seem to fit together like pieces of a puzzle

Continental Drift
Fossils

Similar distribution of fossils such as the Mesosaurus

Continental Drift
Mountains

Mountain ranges match across oceans

Continental Drift
Glaciation

Glacial ages and climate evidence

Continental Drift Model

Problems

Alfred Wegener
Presented research
to professionals
Did not provide a
plausible mechanism
to explain how
continents drifted

Seafloor Spreading
Continental drift reexamined in 1960s with new
information

New theory developed Seafloor spreading

Supporting evidence for seafloor spreading
World
seismicity
Volcanism
Age of seafloor
Paleomagnetism
Heat flow
Theory combining continental drift and seafloor
spreading termed Plate Tectonics

Seafloor Spreading

New sea floor created at the mid-ocean

ridge and destroyed in deep ocean trenches

Evidence for Seafloor Spreading

World Seismicity

Earthquake distribution matches plate boundaries

Evidence for Seafloor Spreading

Volcanism

Volcanoes match some plate boundaries; some

are hot spots

Evidence for Seafloor Spreading

Age of Seafloor

Youngest sea floor is at mid-ocean ridge

Oldest sea floor away from mid-ocean ridge

Evidence for Seafloor Spreading

Paleomagnetism

Earth has a magnetic field - Probably caused by

rotation of solid inner core in liquid outer core (both

Fe) cool at the Earths surface, they record
When rocks
mostly
Earths magnetic field (normal or reverse polarity)

Evidence for Seafloor Spreading

Paleomagnetism

Paleomagnetic studies indicate

alternating stripes of normal and

reverse polarity at the mid-ocean ridge.

Seafloor Spreading
Heat Flow

Seafloor Spreading
Convection Currents

In 1960, proposed as driving force to move continents

Theory of Plate Tectonics

John Tuzo Wilson combined ideas of continental

drift and seafloor spreading into Plate Tectonics

Principles of Plate Tectonics

Earths outermost layer composed of
thin rigid plates moving horizontally

Plates interact with each other along

their edges (plate boundaries)
Plate boundaries have high degree of
tectonic activity
mountain building
earthquakes
volcanoes

Plate Boundaries
Three types

Divergent
Convergent
Transform

Plate Boundaries
Divergent

Plates move away from each other

New crust is being formed

Divergent Plate Boundaries

Examples

East African Rift

Mid-Atlantic Ocean Ridge

Plate Boundaries
Convergent

Three Types:
Ocean-continent
Ocean-ocean

Continent-continent

Plates are moving toward each

other

Crust is being destroyed

Convergent Plate Boundaries

Mount Fuji, Japan

Examples

Mount Lassen, California

Andes, South America

Plate Boundaries
Transform

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Crust is neither created nor destroyed

Plates slide past one another

Transform Plate Boundaries

Examples

San Andreas Fault

Calexico, California

Carrizo Plains, Central Californ