The structure of the Earth, the rocky planets, and the secrets hidden in its heart – National Geographic Thailand

Earth's structure: Rocky planets in the solar system with high temperatures. It is constantly changing and can be explained by the theory of plate tectonics. It affects every life more than you think

Earth is the third closest planet to the Sun in the Solar System, at a distance of about 150 million kilometers (93 million miles), or 1 astronomical unit, and has a magnetic field. Strongly protects against solar storms and harmful space radiation. Therefore, it is really perfect for the lifestyle system.

Arrangement of the structure of the world

Structure of the world Scientists divide them using the physical and chemical composition of the rocks. Including the various materials contained within the Earth, it can be divided into three layers: the Earth's crust (crust), the Earth's mantle (mantle), and the Earth's core (core).

The Earth's crust is the outer part of the Earth's structure. There are parts of the earth and water that can be seen outside and parts of solid rock buried deep beneath the earth and water. It is the longest layer, and consists of many types of rocks, but most of them are igneous rock crystals. The Earth's crust is divided into two regions: continental crust and oceanic crust.

The mantle is the layer between the crust and the core, and is about 2,885 kilometers thick. It is a layer composed of solid minerals. There is a lot of olivine. It also has a higher temperature, pressure, and density than the Earth's crust. But below the Earth's core is divided into two layers: the upper mantle and the lower mantle

While the Earth's core has a spherical shape. Its radius is about 3,475 kilometers, the temperature ranges between 2,200 – 27,500 degrees Celsius, and the pressure is 3 to 4 million times higher than atmospheric pressure at sea level. The Earth's core is a solid, very hot liquid. Thus, the Earth's core can be divided into two layers: the outer core and the inner core.

Earth's core

The Earth's core, or Earth's core, is the deepest layer next to the Earth's mantle. It can be divided into two parts: the outer core, whose thickness ranges between 2,900 and 5,100 kilometers. Geologists believe that this layer consists mostly of iron and nickel, which constitute the Earth's magnetic field. It is in a viscous liquid state. It has a very high temperature of about 4300-6200 degrees Celsius.

The composition of the inner core is the same as that of the outer layer, but it is in a solid state. This is because the pressure and temperature are very high, which can reach 6200-6400 degrees Celsius.

The core of the Earth is considered to have an influence on many of the changes that occur on Earth. Changes in the world can be explained by the theory of plate tectonics. They occur mostly in the lithosphere and the base of the lithosphere. Most earthquakes and volcanoes occur along the boundary layers of tectonic plates called the Ring of Fire, and the processes of faulting, bending and plate tectonics are part of the formation of mountain ranges on Earth.

The secret hidden in the inner heart

The movement of the mantle is caused by differences in heat from the core. As a result, the Earth's tectonic plates move. It can cause earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. These natural hazards change the landscape. In some cases, it threatens life and property.

Therefore, sciences related to geology are no less important than other categories. Although it may not be as beautiful or romantic as astronomy, the most mysterious structure is the inner core. Located approximately 5,000-6,000 kilometers below the Earth's surface, the Earth's core is a spherical ball of hot iron containing an alloy of nickel. Its diameter is 1,220 kilometers, at the boundary between the outer core of molten metal and the surface of the more solid inner core. Its temperature reaches 6000 degrees Celsius, which is equivalent to the temperature of the outer surface of the sun.

In 2023, a team of Chinese scientists from Peking University published their analysis of seismic wave data recorded decades ago in the journal Nature Geoscience, where they found that recently, the Earth's inner core stopped rotating and began to reverse its rotation. Not yet known for sure. This phenomenon will have a profound impact on the general structure of the world. Is it nature or the environment?

However, the mystery of the Earth's inner core is once again beginning to interest geologists and scientists around the world. Geologists believe that electrical energy emanates from the Earth's inner core. This causes the fluid in the outer core to move and create an iron field, which John Beddall, a geophysicist at the University of Southern California, says provides insight into the Earth's interior. It will reveal exactly how our world evolved.

Researched and edited by Sittichot Suphawan.

Photography by Bernhard Edmaier

Reference information

https://www.scimath.org/lesson-earthscience/item/11309-2020-02-17-07-46-48

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_structure_of_Earth

Read more: What is the Earth's structure made of?