AST101H1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 9: Mantle Convection, Outer Core, Lithosphere
17 Nov 2012
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AST101H1 Full Course Notes
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Chapter 9 planetary geology: earth and other terrestrial worlds. Qualities of earth that make it suitable for human life: moderate temperature, protective atmosphere, abundant water, and a relatively stable environment (extremely rare in terms of other planets) Various processes shape the surface of the planets and moon over time, some are ongoing e. g. colorado river shaped the grand canyon, rocky mountains cut down in size. Planetary geology = the extension of the study of earth"s surface and interior to apply to other solid bodies in the solar system, such as terrestrial planets and jovian planets moons. Most geological activity shaped by processes below the surface. Most of our information about earth comes from seismic waves. Seismic waves = earthquake-induced vibrations that propagate through a planet. All terrestrial worlds have layered interiors which are divided by density (differentiation) Core = the dense central region of a planet that has undergone differentiation (e. g. nickel and iron).
