The Structure and Composition of the Earth's Interior

Subject Outline

AThe Earth's concentric layers
- 1Physical properties and zonal structure of the Earth [see also 212]
- 2The basic divisions of the solid Earth
  - aThe crust: the Earth's outer layer, which is differentiated into continental and oceanic crust
  - bThe Mohorovicic discontinuity: the zone that separates crust from mantle
  - cThe mantle: the layer between crust and core that comprises the bulk of the Earth's volume
  - dThe core: the Earth's innermost region, thought to be molten liquid except for a solid inner portion
- 3The development of the Earth's structure and composition [see 241.A.]
BEarthquakes: sources of seismic waves within the Earth
- 1Causes of earthquakes
- 2Distribution of earthquakes
- 3Magnitude, motion, and energy of earthquakes [see also 126.D. and 128.A.]
- 4Seismic measurements and their interpretation [see also 723.F.6.]
CDistribution of elements in the Earth's core, mantle, and crust [see 214.C.]
DThe indirect geophysical and geochemical evidence used to infer the structure and composition of the Earth's interior
- 1Geophysical evidence, mainly from earthquake analyses [see also 212.E.]
  - aSeismic wave velocities
  - bDensity distribution
- 2Geochemical evidence
  - aInvestigations of geochemical equilibria at high temperatures and pressures: phase transitions in the Earth's interior
  - bThe composition and mineralogy of meteorites that may correspond to rocks forming the Earth's interior