Layers of the Earth

• The Atmosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth.

• It contains oxygen, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and other gases.

• It is the least dense layer.

Atmosphere

21%

1%

78%

Hydrosphere• Earth’s water makes up the hydrosphere.• Includes all the liquid water and ice on Earth’s

surface, liquid water in the ground, and water vapor in the atmosphere.

Geosphere

• Geosphere is made up of the Earth’s surface and it’s interior.

(Crust) Lithosphere

• Not the same thickness all over Earth.

• The crust is 6 km(4 mi.) thick under the oceans.

• The crust under the continents is much thicker 25-90km(16-56mi) thick.

• Temperature: cool at top, 870°C at the bottom.

What is the deepest hole ever drilled?

• Today, the deepest hole ever created by humankind is in Siberia. It took 24 years to drill.

• The hole goes down 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) into the Earth’s crust.

Kola Borehole

Kola Borehole

Mantle (Aesthenosphere)

• Mantle is made of rock. The heat and pressure make this rock a semi solid called magma.

• Temperature ranges from 870°C-2200°C (1,600°F-4,000°F)

• Convection currents form in this layer.

2900km(1800mi)

Outer Core• The outer core is

molten iron and nickel and is spinning around the inner core.

• The movement of this metal creates a magnetic field that surrounds the Earth.

Protects us from harmful solar radiation

Thickness: 2200km(1367 miles)Temperature: 5,000°C (9,000°F)

Outer Core• Made of liquid metals (mostly iron and nickel)• Thickness: 2200km(1367 miles)• Temperature: 4400°C (8000°F)• The spinning liquid creates the magnetosphere

(magnetic field around Earth)• Protects us from solar radiation.

Inner Core

• Made of solid iron and nickel.

• Thickness: 1250 km(777mi.)• Temperature:

5,000°C/9,000°F• Gravity squeezes matter

together which makes the core solid and dense.

Densities of the layers

Layers of Earth Conclusion

• Gravity pulls all matter to the center.• The pull of gravity makes all planets and stars

form a sphere.• Earth’s interior is hot because of gravity and

pressure.• Density forms the layers. Least dense – Most Dense

Video clips

• Layers of the Earth Song