The Earth Profile

THE EARTH PROFILE

 

 

THERE ARE FOUR MAIN LAYERS THAT MAKE UP THE EARTH: 

 

1. Inner Core - A mass of iron with a temperature of about 7000 degrees F. Although such temperatures would normally melt iron, immense pressure on it keeps it in a solid form. The inner core is approximately 1,500 miles in diameter.

2. Outer Core - A mass of molten iron about 1,425 miles deep that surrounds the solid inner core. Electrical currents generated from this area produce the earth's magnetic field.

3. Mantle - A rock layer about 1,750 miles thick that reaches about half the distance to the centre of the earth. Parts of this layer become hot enough to liquify and become slow moving molten rock or magma.

4. Crust - A layer from 4-25 miles thick consisting of sand and rock.

The core, mantle and crust of the earth can be envisioned as a giant rock recycling machine. However, the elements that make up rocks are never created or destroyed although they can be redistributed, transforming one rock type to another.