Earth's Layers Revisited
The Earth consists of several distinct layers, each with unique properties. The crust (lithosphere) forms Earth's outer shell, varying from just 5 km thick under oceans to 70 km beneath mountain ranges like the Himalayas.
Below the crust lies the mantle, a partially molten layer about 2,900 km thick with temperatures between 500°C and 2,000°C. This is where magma originates before erupting onto the surface. Deeper still, we find the outer core (molten iron and nickel) and the inner core (solid iron despite temperatures up to 7,000°C!).
The Earth also has external layers: the hydrosphere (all water on or near the surface) and atmosphere (the gas layer extending about 145 km upward).
Think About It: The inner core remains solid despite temperatures reaching 7,000°C—hotter than the Sun's surface—because of the extreme pressure at Earth's center!