geosphere

(solid earth system)

• solid rock
• parts of it flow slowly, upward or downward
• comprised of ultramafic rocks (rich in Fe and Mg, poor in silica
• extends to 2900 km
• largest part of earth

thickness is insignificant compared to the whole earth, only have direct access to the crust.

oceanic crust and continental crust, oceanic crust is very thin.

crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.

makes up the plates of Plate Tectonic Theory

upper part of the mantle below lithosphere.

ductile solid, will flow under stress rather than rupture, like the lithosphere.

cause defromation of rock as well as vertical and horizontal movement of crust.

mountain ranges are built by this

thick

less dense

silica rich

thin

more dense

more mafic

plates move apart and new oceanic crust is formed.

coincide with crests of mountain ranges, called mid-oceanic ridges.

plates move toward each other and oceanic crust is recycled into the mantle.

ensures that earth doesn't grow in size.

oceanic-continent, ocean-ocean, continent-continent.

(ocean-continent convergence)

the less dense continental plate overrides denser oceanic plate and sinks at this point.

neither plate subducts in c-c convergence.

more dense plate subducts in o-o convergence.

plates move past each other horizontally.

uplift due to removal of overburden through erosion.

vertical movement of sections of Earth's crust to achieve balance.

the sun.

drives most surficial processes.

removal of rocky material from its original location.

results in the wearing down of the land's surface.

moving water, ice, or wind loosens and removes material.

loose material, the product of the breakdown of rock.

eroded sediments are transported to low energy environments where they accumulate, eventually cement into sedimentary rock.