Unit 3 Lesson 1 What are the characteristics of Earths Layers

Mapping Earths Internal Structure: The speeds of seismic waves change when they travel through different materials Seismic waves are caused by earthquakes Help scientists map Earths internal structure Seismic Waves 2 types that move differently through the Earths layers o P-wave first & fastest wave to be released; can travel through all layers o S-wave second wave released; cannot travel through the molten outer core Shadow zone: area on Earth between 105 & 140 from a seismic waves starting point o No waves are detected o Created by the bending of P-waves & stopping of S-waves Layer Boundaries: Mohorovicic Discontinuity: o the boundary between the crust & upper mantle where seismic waves speed up o the Moho Mantle: o Seismic waves slow down in asthenosphere & speed in more solid mantle Core: o S-waves do NOT travel through liquid outer core & P-waves slow down at outer core & speed up in inner core