Earth System Science

  1. The Geosphere
    1. Earth's Interior Structure
      1. Core
        1. Inner Core
          1. Outer Core
            1. Composition and Properties
            2. Mantle
              1. Upper Mantle
                1. Lower Mantle
                  1. Composition and Properties
                  2. Crust
                    1. Continental Crust
                      1. Oceanic Crust
                        1. Composition and Properties
                        2. Methods of Studying Earth's Interior
                          1. Seismic Waves
                            1. Drilling and Sampling
                              1. Geophysical Surveys
                            2. Plate Tectonics
                              1. Theory of Continental Drift
                                1. Historical Evidence
                                  1. Alfred Wegener's Contributions
                                  2. Theory of Plate Tectonics
                                    1. Plate Boundaries and Movements
                                      1. Evidence Supporting Plate Tectonics
                                      2. Plate Boundaries
                                        1. Convergent Boundaries
                                          1. Subduction Zones
                                            1. Continental Collision
                                            2. Divergent Boundaries
                                              1. Mid-Ocean Ridges
                                                1. Continental Rifting
                                                2. Transform Boundaries
                                                  1. Strike-Slip Faults
                                                3. Driving Mechanisms
                                                  1. Mantle Convection
                                                    1. Slab Pull
                                                      1. Ridge Push
                                                    2. The Rock Cycle
                                                      1. Processes of the Rock Cycle
                                                        1. Melting
                                                          1. Cooling and Solidification
                                                            1. Weathering and Erosion
                                                              1. Compaction and Cementation
                                                                1. Metamorphism
                                                                2. Igneous Rocks
                                                                  1. Formation Processes
                                                                    1. Intrusive vs. Extrusive
                                                                      1. Common Types
                                                                      2. Sedimentary Rocks
                                                                        1. Formation Processes
                                                                          1. Clastic Sedimentary Rocks
                                                                            1. Chemical Sedimentary Rocks
                                                                              1. Organic Sedimentary Rocks
                                                                              2. Metamorphic Rocks
                                                                                1. Formation Processes
                                                                                  1. Foliated Metamorphic Rocks
                                                                                    1. Non-foliated Metamorphic Rocks
                                                                                  2. Geologic Processes
                                                                                    1. Volcanism
                                                                                      1. Types of Volcanoes
                                                                                        1. Volcanic Hazards
                                                                                          1. Volcanic Landforms
                                                                                          2. Earthquakes and Seismology
                                                                                            1. Causes of Earthquakes
                                                                                              1. Seismic Waves
                                                                                                1. Measuring Earthquakes
                                                                                                  1. Earthquake Hazards
                                                                                                  2. Mountain Building
                                                                                                    1. Types of Orogenic Processes
                                                                                                      1. Major Mountain Ranges
                                                                                                    2. Surface Processes
                                                                                                      1. Weathering
                                                                                                        1. Mechanical Weathering
                                                                                                          1. Chemical Weathering
                                                                                                            1. Biological Weathering
                                                                                                            2. Erosion
                                                                                                              1. Water Erosion
                                                                                                                1. Wind Erosion
                                                                                                                  1. Ice Erosion
                                                                                                                    1. Gravity-Driven Erosion
                                                                                                                    2. Deposition
                                                                                                                      1. Sediment Transport
                                                                                                                        1. Formation of Landforms