The study of the Earth's layers is carried out on the surface, observing its phenomena. The Earth's layers have two distinct approaches, one according to chemical composition and the other according to physical behavior.
According to the classification according to chemical composition, the Earth is divided into crust, mantle and nucleus and in physical behavior it is divided into lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer nucleus and nucleus internal. All layers of the Earth are distinct, this fact occurs due to its chemical composition, temperature and thickness. The Earth's surface is the best known to man, even because it is precisely on it that we live and remove everything we deem necessary for the maintenance of societies, in addition, the endogenous (internal) layers hold very high temperatures that make it difficult to access data collection that can serve for the development of research and studies.
The layers by chemical composition:
*Earth's crust: corresponds to the thin layer of the earth's surface, is composed of solid rocks consisting of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, magnesium and iron, this part of the planet has 40 kilometers of thickness.
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*Mantle: it comprises the second layer, is 2,900 kilometers long and maintains a high temperature that reaches 3,400ºC. The ore responsible for the formation of this layer of the Earth is magma, consisting of silicon and magnesium.
*Core: this part of the Earth is the most intriguing, as there is practically no knowledge about this layer, however, it is known that it is formed by ores such as iron and nickel. The core is divided into an inner core (extension of 2,250 km and 3,000ºC) and an outer core (extension of 1,220 km and reaches a temperature of approximately 6,000ºC).
The layers by physical behavior:
*lithosphere: it corresponds to a layer that is found between the crust and the part of the upper mantle, has a solid texture and moves over the asthenosphere.
*Mesosphere: it has a great thickness and is quite dense, superior to superficial rocks.
By Eduardo de Freitas
Graduated in Geography
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
FREITAS, Eduardo de. "Earth Structure"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/estrutura-terrestre.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
