ESS105H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 2: Continental Crust, Seafloor Spreading, Outer Core
Document Summary
2. 1 the solid earth system: components and processes. The inner core is made of solid iron and nickel; outer core is molten and responsible for. The mantle surrounds the core and exhibits a caramel/taffy flow texture. Rocks in the mantle deform slowly due to the high temperature and pressure; however, the high pressure keeps the rocks from becoming molten. The crust can be split into seafloor/oceanic crust and continental crust. Crust and uppermost mantle make up the lithosphere; lithosphere is quite thin and consists of plates which move over the uppermost portion of the mantle; lithosphere is above the asthenosphere. Plates move via seafloor spreading; convection cells bring hot mantle rock towards. Mid-ocean ridges are evidence of ocean crust formation. The heat within earth is generated by radioactive decay. Subduction creates seafloor trenches; as the plate subducts, magma is formed which in turn results in volcanoes. When large amounts of magma move under a continent, plates are rifted apart.
