Download Layers of the earth and convection currents

2/18/2016
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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LAYERS OF THE EARTH
AND
CONVECTION CURRENTS
Layers of Earth Diagram
Layers of Earth notes
Convection Currents Diagram
Convection Currents Notes
LAYERS OF THE EARTH
 Crust
– the thin outer layer of the Earth that is made
up of solid rock.
 Types
of Crust:

Continental Crust – the portion of Earth’s crust that lies
beneath the continents.
Very thick and less dense

Oceanic Crust – the portion of Earth’s crust that lies
beneath the oceans.
Very thin and very dense
LAYERS OF THE EARTH
 Lithosphere
– the rigid outer part of the Earth,
consisting of the lower portion of the crust and the
upper portion of the mantle.
 Made up of the tectonic plates.
 Asthenosphere
– the putty-like layer of the mantle
that the tectonic plates float on.


Upper portion of the mantle.
Convection Currents take place here.
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CONVECTION IN THE MANTLE
A  Density of mantle material is less than material above it,
so the materials begin to rise.
B  Rising material hits rigid lithosphere and cannot go up
any further.
C  The force of gravity is causing denser material to fall.
D  Core heat causes temperature to rise, therefore
decreasing the density of material
CAUSEEFFECTRESULT
 Cause

Convection currents are caused by Earth’s internal thermal
energy causing mantle to heat, expand, and rise. As it gets
closer to crust it cools, becoming denser and sinking forming a
current.
 Effect

The convection currents act as a “conveyor belt” moving the
plates of the lithosphere above.
 Result

The result of plates moving are earthquakes, volcanic
eruptions, and building of mountains.
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