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Transcript
Structure of the Earth The Earth’s layers • The Earth consists of a core, mantle and crust. Complete the table using previous slide Thickness Crust Mantle Inner core Outer core Temperature Properties The Earth’s movement • The Earth’s crust and the upper part of the mantle are cracked into a number of large pieces (tectonic plates) Continental drift Convection currents • Convection currents within the Earth’s mantle, driven by heat released by natural radioactive processes, cause the plates to move at relative speeds of a few centimetres per year. Effects of tectonic plate movements • The movements can be sudden and disastrous. Earthquakes and/or volcanic eruptions occur at the boundaries between tectonic plates Why is the atmosphere important? The Earth is different to the other planets in our solar system because it has an atmosphere that can support life. The atmosphere is an envelope of different gases (air) surrounding Earth. 80% of atmospheric gases are in the 15 km closest to Earth. This is a very thin layer compared to the Earth’s diameter, which is 12,756 kilometres. What is the atmosphere made of? The gases that make up the atmosphere have been the same for about 200 million years: about 21% is oxygen about 78% is nitrogen The remaining 1% is mostly argon (0.93%) with some carbon dioxide (0.035%), varying amounts of water vapour and trace amounts of other gases How was our atmosphere formed? • • • • During the first billion years of the Earth’s existence there was intense volcanic activity. This activity released the gases that formed the early atmosphere and water vapour that condensed to form the oceans. There may also have been water vapour and small proportions of methane and ammonia. Plants and algae produced the oxygen that is now in the atmosphere Formation of plants and animals • There are many theories as to how life was formed billions of years ago • One theory as to how life was formed involves the interaction between hydrocarbons, ammonia and lightning Put into correct order • • • • Most of the carbon from the carbon dioxide in the early atmosphere gradually became locked up in sedimentary rocks as carbonates and fossil fuels The oceans also act as a reservoir for carbon dioxide, though increased amounts impact on marine life Nowadays, burning fossil fuels is releasing carbon dioxide back into the atmosphere Air is a mixture of gases with different boiling points an can be fractionally distilled to provide a source of raw materials used in a variety of industrial processes