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Transcript
!GLG 101-Illustrated Vocabulary-Chapter 16 !Structure of the Earth copyright 2003-Roger Weller !asthenosphere *a semi-plastic layer in the structure of the Earth which is beneath the lithosphere and is variable in thickness. !atmosphere *the outermost spherical structure comprising a planet; the gases that cover the planet. !continental crust *a portion of the Earth's crust that is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust. Consequently, this type of crust floats at a higher elevation and protrudes above sea level to form continents. !core *the innermost spherical structure of a planet; it is the densest material, probably consisting mostly of iron and nickel, similar to the composition of iron meteorites. The outer portion is liquid and the inner portion is solid. !crust *the upper most solid layer of the earth's structure; often divided into oceanic crust (thinner) and continental crust (thicker) !density *a measurement of the mass of an object compared to its volume; often expressed in terms of grams per cubic centimeter. !gravitational magmatic segregation *under the influence of gravity crystals that form as as a magma cools either settle to the bottom of the magma chamber (dense compounds) or rise to the roof of the magma chamber (low density compounds). !hydrosphere *the layer of water that covers the crust of a planet. !isotasy *is tied into the concept that the crust of the planet floats on top of a denser, semi-plastic mantle. Mountain ranges, made mostly of granite, stick up higher than surrounding plains because the crust beneath the mountains is thicker, allowing the mountains to float higher. !mantle *the layer of the Earth located between the lithosphere and the core !mantle plume *hot, low density molten (or semi-molten) material rises from the mantle and comes up underneath the crust. !oceanic crust *the crust of the Earth beneath the oceans; typically only 2 to three miles thick. !thermal convection *within the mantle of a planet, hot fluid material rises because of its lower density, while cold material sinks because of its higher density