DEFINITIONS

THE EARTHS LAYERS

1. Geosphere: Is the solid part of the Earth made up of three layers: crust, mantle and core. Crust: Is the solid outer layer made up of rocks. Mantle: Is the middle layer made up of very dense, rocky substances. Core: Is the inner layer of the Earth made up of iron.

2. Hydrosphere: Is all the water on Earth. It can be solid, liquid or gas.

3. Atmosphere: Is the layer of gases that surrounds the Earth. The closest layers to Earth are troposphere and stratosphere. Troposphere: Is the layer of air closest to the Earths surface. Weather phenomena occur here. Stratosphere: Is the layer above the troposphere and contains the ozone layer.

THE EARTHS CRUST

1. Soil: Is the top part of the Earth where plants grow. It is made up of solid, liquid and gas components. Solid components: are a mixture of minerals and organic matter. Liquid components: is water, which contains dissolved minerals. Gas component: is air, which contains carbon dioxide and oxygen.

2. Erosion: is the removal of soil and rock material by water, wind or ice. Transport: is the movement of eroded material. Deposition: when eroded material is carried to other places by wind or water. Sedimentation: when sand or mud settles at the bottom of an ocean or river.

3. Rocks Igneous rocks: rocks formed when magma cools and solidifies. Sedimentary rocks: rocks made up of pieces of other rocks or living things. Metamorphic rocks: rocks formed when heat or pressure changes the original rock. Rock cycle: the set of processes which form and change rocks over time.

VOLCANOES AND EARTHQUAKES

1. Earthquakes: A strong movement of the Earths crust caused by the sudden release of energy from below the surface. Seaquakes: An earthquakes under the sea. Tsunamis: A giant wave created by a seaquake.

2. Volcanoes: An opening in the Earths crust where magma comes to the surface.

Magma: Liquid rock found deep inside the Earth. Lava: When magma comes to the surface, it is called lava. Volcanic chimney: The long vent of a volcano through which magma rises to the surface. Volcanic cone: The mountain shape of a volcano. Crater: circular opening of a volcano at the top of the volcanic chimney, formed when magma rises to the surface.

3. Types of volcanoes. Active volcanoes: have erupted at least once in the last 10.000 years. Dormant volcanoes: are sleeping, but may be active again. Extinct volcanoes: have not erupted for more than 10.000 years.

The Earths Layers

(50 km) (3.000 Km) (3.400 Km)

CRUST

MANTLE

CORE

It is made up of rocks. It is solid. It is thicker beneath the continents and thinner beneath the oceans.

It is very dense and rocky. Magma is found here. It is the middle layer of the geosphere.

It is made up primarily of iron. It is the most inner layer of the geosphere. Part is liquid and part is solid.

Hydrosphere
Fresh water is found on Continents and islands

Salt water

is found in

Oceans and seas.

Groundwater

is found in

Aquifers

Layers of the Atmosphere

Troposphere Is the layer closest to the Earths surface. It is ten to twenty kilometers thick. It contains most of the gases and water vapour. It contains the air that we breathe. It contains clouds.

Stratosphere

It is the layer above the troposphere. It is thirty kilometers thick. Air is thinner and colder. It contains ozone layer.

Parts of the volcano

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Magma chamber Volcanic chimney or vent Volcanic cone Crater Lava Ash and gas cloud

Rocks
Metamorphic Sedimentary Igneous

Marble Coal

Granite

Slate