Layers of the Earth

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• Crust- rigid, rocky outer surface of the Earth, composed mostly of basalt and granite. Thinner under oceans

• Continental Crust- thick parts of the Earths crust not located under ocean.

• Lithosphere- crust, plus rigid, upper mantle• Oceanic crust- thin parts of Earth’s crust under

oceans.• Ocean- Large bodies of water, sitting atop

oceanic crust. • Mohorovicic Discontinuity- separates crust

and upper mantle

• Mantle- rocky layer located under crust- composed of silicon, oxygen, magnesium, iron, aluminum, and calcium. Convection (heat) currents carry heat from the inner mantle to the cooler outer mantle.

• Upper mantle- (rigid) uppermost part of the mantle, part of lithosphere.

• Upper mantle (flowing) Athenosphere- lower part of the upper mantle that exhibits plastic (flowing) characteristics.

• Asthenosphere- Layer in upper mantle that is made of material that can be reshaped and deformed and on which the continental plates move.

• Lower mantle- (semi-rigid) deepest part of the mantle, just above core.

• Outer core- Molten iron-nickel layer that surrounds the inner core.

• Inner core- solid iron-nickel center of the Earth, very hot and under great pressure.