Our planet has several shells, is the third from the Sun, and is fifth in size. We suggest you get to know our planet closer, study the structure of the Earth in a section. To do this, we will analyze each of its layers separately.
Shell
It is known that the Earth has three shells:
- Atmosphere.
- Lithosphere.
- Hydrosphere.
Even by name it is easy to guess that the first is of air origin, the second is a hard shell, and the third is water.
Atmosphere
This is the gas shell of our planet. Its peculiarity is that it extends thousands of kilometers above ground level. Its composition is changed exclusively by man and not for the better. What is the significance of the atmosphere? It’s like our protective dome protecting the planet from various space debris, which burns to a greater extent in this layer.
The ozone layer protects against the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. But, as you know, there are ozone holes that appeared exclusively as a result of the life of people. Thanks to this shell, we have a comfortable temperature and humidity. A wide variety of living beings is also her merit. Let's look at the structure of the Earth’s atmosphere in layers. We single out the most important and significant of them.
Troposphere
This is the bottom layer, it is also the most dense. Right now you are in it. Geonomy, the science of the structure of the Earth, is studying this layer. Its upper limit varies from seven to twenty kilometers, while the higher the temperature, the wider the layer. If we consider the structure of the Earth in the context at the poles and at the equator, then it will be noticeably different, at the equator it is much wider.
What else can be said about this layer? It is here that the water cycle occurs, cyclones and anticyclones form, wind is generated, speaking generally, then all processes associated with weather and climate occur. A very interesting property that applies only to the Troposphere, if you go up a hundred meters, the air temperature will drop by about one degree. Outside this envelope, the law acts exactly the opposite. There is one place between the troposphere and the stratosphere, where the temperature does not change - the tropopause.
Stratosphere
Since we are considering the origin and structure of the Earth, we cannot miss the layer of the stratosphere, the name of which in translation means “layer” or “flooring”.
It is in this layer that passenger liners and supersonic planes fly. Note that the air here is very discharged. The temperature changes with a climb from minus fifty six to zero, this continues until the stratopause.
Is there life there?
Paradoxical as it may sound, in 2005 life forms were discovered in the stratosphere. This is a certain proof of the theory of the origin of life of our planet, brought from outer space.
But perhaps these are mutated bacteria that have climbed to such record heights. Whatever the truth, one thing is surprising: ultraviolet light does not harm bacteria in any way, although it is they who die in the first place.
Ozone layer and mesosphere
Studying the structure of the Earth in the context, we can notice the well-known ozone layer. As mentioned earlier, it is he who is our shield against ultraviolet radiation. Let's see where he came from. Oddly enough, but it was created by the inhabitants of the planet. We know that plants produce oxygen, which we need to breathe. It rises through the atmosphere when it encounters ultraviolet radiation, then it reacts, as a result, ozone is obtained from oxygen. One thing is surprising: ultraviolet is involved in the production of ozone and protects the inhabitants of planet Earth from it. In addition, as a result of the reaction, the atmosphere around it heats up. It is also very important to know that the ozone layer borders on the mesosphere, there is no life and cannot be beyond it.
As for the next layer, it is less studied, since only missiles or aircraft with rocket engines can move through this space. The temperature here reaches minus one hundred and forty degrees Celsius. When studying the structure of the Earth in a section, for children this layer is most interesting, because it is thanks to it that we see phenomena such as starfall. An interesting fact is that every day up to a hundred tons of cosmic dust falls to the Earth, but it is so small and light that it can take up to a month to settle.
It is believed that this dust can cause rain, like emissions from a nuclear explosion or volcanic ash.
Thermosphere
We will find it at an altitude of eighty-five to eight hundred kilometers. A distinctive feature is the high temperature, however, the air is very discharged, this is what people use when launching satellites. The molecules of air are simply not enough to heat the physical body.
The thermosphere is the source of the northern lights. It is very important: one hundred kilometers is the official border of the atmosphere, although there are no obvious signs. Flights beyond this line are not impossible, but very difficult.
Exosphere
Considering the structure of the Earth in the context, the last outer layer of the atmosphere we will see this shell. It is located at an altitude of more than eight hundred kilometers above the ground. This layer is characterized by the fact that atoms can easily and unhindered fly into the open spaces of outer space. It is believed that the atmosphere of our planet ends with this layer, the height from the surface of the earth is about two to three thousand kilometers. Recently, the following was discovered: particles escaping from the exosphere form a dome, which is located approximately at an altitude of up to twenty thousand kilometers.
Lithosphere
This is a hard shell of the Earth, has a thickness of five to ninety kilometers. Like the atmosphere, it is created by substances released from the upper mantle. It is worth paying attention to the fact that its formation continues to this day, mainly on the ocean floor. The basis of the lithosphere is crystals formed after cooling of magma.
Hydrosphere
This is the water shell of our earth, it is worth noting that water covers more than seventy percent of the entire planet. All water on Earth is usually divided into:
- World Ocean.
- Surface water.
- The groundwater.
In total, more than 1300 million kilometers of cubic water on planet Earth.
Earth's crust
So what is the structure of the earth? It has three components: atmosphere, lithosphere and hydrosphere. We suggest analyzing what the Earth’s crust looks like. The internal structure of the Earth is represented by the following layers:
In addition, the Earth has gravitational, magnetic and electric fields. Geospheres can be called: core, mantle, lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and magnetosphere. They differ in the density of the substances that make them.
Nucleus
Note that the denser the constituent substance, the closer it is to the center of the planet. That is, it can be argued that the densest matter of our planet is the core. As you know, it consists of two parts:
- Internal (solid).
- External (liquid).
If we take the entire core, then the radius will be about three and a half thousand kilometers. The inside is solid, as there is more pressure. The temperature reaches four thousand degrees Celsius. The composition of the inner core is a mystery to humanity, but there is an assumption that it consists of pure nickel iron, but its liquid part (external) consists of iron with impurities of nickel and sulfur. It is the liquid part of the nucleus that explains the presence of the magnetic field.
Mantle
Like the core, it consists of two parts:
- Lower mantle.
- Upper mantle.
Mantle material can be studied thanks to powerful tectonic uplifts. It can be argued that it is in a crystalline state. The temperature reaches two and a half thousand degrees Celsius, but why does it not melt? Thanks to the strongest pressure.
Only the asthenosphere is in a liquid state, while the lithosphere floats in this layer. It has an amazing feature: with short loads it is solid, and with long loads - plastic.