1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Earth is actually composed of three major parts or layers: the solid earth ( the asthenosphere and lithosphere), the atmosphere (the blanket of air that envelopes the earth), and the hydrosphere (the water parts, including ocean, streams and air moisture).
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1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The asthenosphere is composed of partially molten rock slushlike material consisting of solid particles with liquid occupying spaces in between. It lies between about 100 kilometers (62 miles) and 410 kilometers (255 miles) beneath Earth's surface.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Convection currents generated within the asthenosphere push magma upward through volcanic vents and spreading centres to create new crust. Convection currents also stress the lithosphere above, and the cracking that often results manifests as earthquakes.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of the Earth. It includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust, the planet's outermost layers. The lithosphere is located below the atmosphere and above the asthenosphere.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Due to the cold temperature of space, the surface layer of earth cooled off quickly. Differentiation of magma makes two types of "lithosphere, oceanic" and continental which is characterized in the continents by "basalt in oceans" and granite.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Atmosphere is defined as the area of air and gas enveloping objects in space, like stars and planets, or the air around any location. An example of atmosphere is the ozone and other layers which make up the Earth's sky as we see it.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The joint US-European Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite shows that it actually extends as far 391,000 miles (630,000 km) or 50 times the Earth's diameter. This makes the Moon a very high altitude aircraft.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The troposphere contains about 75% of all of the air in the atmosphere, and almost all of the water vapour (which forms clouds and rain). When air expands it cools. So air higher up is cooler than air lower down.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Most types of clouds are found in the troposphere, and almost all weather occurs within this layer. The troposphere is between 5 and 9 miles (8 and 14 kilometers) thick depending on where you are on Earth.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The stratosphere accounts for approximately 24% of the earth's total atmosphere. The stratosphere contains approximately 19% of the earth's total atmospheric gases. 90% of the ozone layer is found in the stratosphere's upper crust.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The stratosphere is where you'll find the very important ozone layer. The ozone layer helps protect us from ultraviolet radiation (UV) from the sun. In fact, the ozone layer absorbs most of the UV radiation the sun sends to us.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The mesosphere is the coldest atmospheric layer surrounding the earth. It becomes cold enough to freeze water vapour in its atmosphere into ice clouds. These ice clouds are blue-white and are called noctilucent clouds or polar mesospheric clouds.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The mesosphere is 35 kilometers thick. The meteors make it through the exosphere and thermosphere without much trouble because those layers don't have much air. But when they hit the mesosphere, there are enough gases to cause friction and create heat.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Thermosphere is about 513 kms thick. That's much thicker than the inner layers of the atmosphere. The thermosphere is home to the International Space Station as it orbits Earth. This is also where you'll find low Earth orbit satellites.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The ionosphere is ionized by solar radiation. It plays an important part in atmospheric electricity and forms the inner edge of the magnetosphere. among other functions, it influences radio propagation to distant places on the Earth.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The ionosphere is formed when energetic electromagnetic-and particle radiation from the sun and space ionize air molecules, creating plasma in the upper atmosphere. Irregular ionospheric layers are formed, which are associated with the northern lights.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The air in the exosphere is very thin, and is made up mostly of helium, and hydrogen. Traces of other gases such as atomic oxygen and carbon dioxide can also be found.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Its functions to act as a transitional medium to a zone under the influence of gravity. It also helps the atoms to escape from the atmosphere to outer space. Unlike other atmospheric layers, it is the only layer of the atmosphere that has a definite shape.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Several hundred kilometres above Earth's surface and extending tens of thousands of kilometres into space, is the magnetosphere, a region where the behaviour of charged particles is strongly affected by the magnetic fields of Earth and the Sun.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Several hundred kilometres above Earth's surface and extending tens of thousands of kilometres into space, is the magnetosphere, a region where the behaviour of charged particles is strongly affected by the magnetic fields of Earth and the Sun.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The magnetosphere is important because it shields us. Charged particles cannot easily cross the lines of a magnetic field. The result is that most of the particles in the incoming solar wind are deflected around the earth by the earth's magnetic field.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Hydrosphere. All of the Earth's water, including surface water (water in oceans, lakes, and rivers), groundwater (water in soil and beneath the Earth's surface), snowcover, ice, and water in the atmosphere, including water vapor.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
The major importance of the hydrosphere is that water sustains various life forms and plays an important role in ecosystems and regulating the atmosphere. Hydrosphere covers all water present on the Earth's surface.
1EFyYrZ3NBGLdzwcbeXsDE2TkZUFeqEvi1 (2755) ·
Earth's hydrosphere has been around for about 4 billion years, it continues to change in shape.