Summary of the Structure of the Earth, completed with the notes from my first few Geography lessons. Contains a few diagrams to help explain the notes further. specifically focusing on how the structure of the Earth was discovered.
The Structure of the Earth
Alfred Wegener (1920s) – idea of ‘’catastrophism’’
They were looking for ideas that God created certain
features
His papers weren’t well received
Wegener - Then came up with the ‘’gradualism’’
the idea that things happen slowly over time
e.g. south America + Africa – jigsaw theory
came up with theory of Pangea
Wegener wrote a book – ‘’The Thought of Continental Drift’’ but nobody believed
him because he didn’t have much evidence.
1940s – End of WW2
all empires knocked out, only 2 global superpowers left (USA and
Soviet Union (Russia))
start of cold war
Alaska was sold to the USA from Russia giving the USA an advantage to
threaten with nuclear weapons
1960s – US Navy employed geophysicists; Mckenzie + Hess
Used sonar imaging to map the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean
Produced accurate maps but over time they became inaccurate
Map changes caused questioning of continental drift because the
mountains have ‘’moved’’
They proved that Wegener was correct and therefore published ‘’The
Theory of Plate Tectonics’’
Proof of continental drift – Elephants
Elephants found in Africa, Madagascar and India are genetically identical
Because they were once all connected + when India meets Asia it creates the
Himalayan mountains.
How?
Mckenzie and Hess had access to radar beams that could be sent through the
earth to provide the theory.
gets cooler moving outwards away from the centre
Core – inner + outer = metallic (iron + nickel)
Asthenosphere (mantle) – liquid/solid – plasticity
Lithosphere (crust) – solid – hard magma
Core - radioactive decay = releases heat
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller equievie. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $8.15. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
