The Earth and Its Dynamic Processes

The Earth

Crystal Katherine I. Parungao

6 St. Perpetua

 The earth is composed of three layers: the crust,

the mantle, and the core. Scientists study the
earths interior through seismic waves.
The crust is the thinnest layer. It is divided into
continental crust and oceanic crust. The crust is
thinnest in the ocean than in the continents.

 The mantle is the thickest layer. It is made up of

molten rock. The mantle is divided into upper
mantle and lower mantle.
The core is the center of the earth. It is divided
into liquid outer core and solid inner core.
The lithosphere is divided into many plates that
move in relation to each other due to tectonic
forces.

 The plates are structures that support the crust.

They are located above the asthenosphere. These
plates move in three different ways. They move
away from each other, they collide or move
against each other, or they slide past each other.
Plate boundaries are areas where two plates meet.
Plates collide at a convergent plate boundary;
they move apart in the divergent boundary and
slide past over another in a transform fault
boundary.

 Geology is the science that deals with the study of

the earth, its history and the various processes
that shape it.
An earthquake is a sudden movement or vibration
in the earths crust. This sudden motion causes
seismic waves to radiate from their point of origin
called the focus and travel directly above the focus
called the epicenter. Earthquakes are strongest
near their epicenter. The closer an earthquake is
to its epicenter, the stronger it is.

 Strong and devastating earthquakes are related

to the sudden movement of tectonic plates. This
earthquake is called tectonic earthquake.
Earthquakes are triggered by volcanic activities.
This earthquake is called a volcanic earthquake.
The Pacific Ring of Fire is an area circling the
Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic
activities occur in this area. The Philippines is
part of the Pacific Ring of Fire.

 A seismograph measures the magnitude and intensity

of an earthquake. Magnitude is the energy released by
an earthquake. Magnitude is measured using a
Richter Scale. Intensity is a measure of how much
damage an earthquake causes on the surface.
Intensity is measured on the Mercalli Intensity Scale.
A volcano is an opening at the earths crust where
gases, pyroclasts, and lava are ejected on to the
surface. Volcanoes are classified using different bases.

 According to the shape and composition of the

cone, volcanoes are classified as having a
composite cone, cinder cone, and shield cone.
According to an activity, volcanoes are classified
as active, dormant, and extinct. Volcanic
eruption may be violent or quiet, depending on
the composition of the molten material.

 Volcanic eruptions can cause serious human,

economic, and environmental impacts, but
volcanoes can also be rich sources of materials
and provide benefits to man and all sectors of
society.
Volcanic eruption preparedness includes
knowing what to do before, during, and after an
earthquake to minimize damage.