Download 03 Earth Systems Lithosphere

Earth Systems
The Lithosphere
Solar system
Planets in order from the sun
Planet Earth
We will study three parts of our
planet that are on or near the
surface.
1. The lithosphere, or the outer
rocky part.
2. The hydrosphere, or the part
of the earth that is water.
3. The atmosphere, or the air
surrounding our planet.
Discussion starter: Why is life on
Earth possible?
Earth’s Internal Structure
• If we could cut
away a section of
the earth, we could
see that it is
composed of
several layers. The
lithosphere is the
outermost layer.
What is the lithosphere?
• The lithosphere is composed of the crust and the
upper part of the mantle.
• The asthenosphere is just beneath the lithosphere.
More on the lithosphere
• The lithosphere is composed of rocks,
and the breakdown product of rocks,
which we call soil.
• There are three major kinds of rocks.
Igneous Rock
Igneous rock is formed when molten
(or liquid) rock cools and hardens.
Lava flowing out of a volcano is molten
rock. So is magma inside the earth.
Sedimentary Rock
Sedimentary rock is formed when
sediment, such as mud or sand, is
deposited by wind or water in layers.
Over time, the soft sediment is
compressed into hard rocks. Fossils
can be found in sedimentary rocks.
Metamorphic Rock
• Sometimes heat and pressure cause
an igneous or sedimentary rock to
change into a third kind of rock.
Metamorphic rock has been
physically changed by heat and
pressure.
The Rock Cycle
• The rock cycle defines the processes by
which rocks are created and transformed
into other kinds of rock.
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/msese/earthsysflr/rock.html