Planet Earth 2.1 EXPERT
What is the internal structure of the Earth located just below the Earth's crust and making up about 84% of its total volume?
50% of players answered correctly.
THE CORRECT ANSWER: The mantle
The Earth's mantle is a colossal intermediate layer that extends to a depth of approximately 2,900 kilometers. Although composed of solid rock, the mantle behaves like an extremely viscous fluid on geological time scales.It is within it that convection currents occur, the real drivers of plate tectonics, evacuating internal heat towards the surface. Its composition is mainly made of silicates rich in magnesium and iron, such as olivine. This layer plays an essential thermal regulator role for the Earth.Without this internal dynamic, our planet would be a geologically dead world, lacking crust renewal, volcanoes and a protective magnetic shield. Understanding the mantle means understanding the internal energy that tirelessly sculpts the changing face of our continents.