The Earth's Structure

We know today, that the earth is surrounded by earth's crust consisting of a relatively light rock. Underneath is the earth's mantle. On the outside, the mantle is formed by a solid rock, which turns liquid as it descends closer to the earth's core. The core consists of two parts, the outer and the inner core, and its material is mostly iron. The temperature of the inner core is probably similar to the temperature that exists on the surface of the sun.

Our continents and the ocean floor are on the outer layer of the earth, the earth's crust. Compared to the entire radius of the earth (the median earth's radius measures 6.370 kilometres), the earth's crust is very thin. Underneath the oceans, the thickness of the earth's crust measures between 8 to 15 kilometres. Underneath the continents it reaches 30 to 100 kilometres into the interior. Underneath Central Valley in California, for example, the earth's crust is only 20 kilometres thick, while underneath the Himalayas it reaches the depth of 90 kilometres. In the upper crust, the seismic waves travel at very different speeds. This indicates the existence of a great variety of rocks.

Between the crust and the upper mantle is a prominent boundary, named after its discoverer the Mohorovi discontinuity, or Moho for short. When analysing seismological data, Mohorovi discovered that in that particular place the travelling speed of seismic waves noticeably changes, which also means that there is a different material in the earth's core.

In comparison with the ocean crust, the structure of the continental crust is much more varied and stronger. It contains rocks that are up to 3,8 million years old. The effects of wind erosion, deformation, rising and lowering created many diverse layers. The surface is often formed by sediments and volcanic rocks, which have a very low density. Underneath we find a folded metamorphic sedimentary layer, linked partially to a granitic layer. The lower portion of the crust contains crystallised and metamorphic rock layers extending all the way to the earth's mantle.

In contrast, the structure of the ocean crust is relatively simple. It consists of smaller number of layers. First, there is a firm sediment measuring from a few hundred metres to up to three kilometres. Underneath this sediment we find a layer consisting of hard rock - mainly basalt and a minor admixture of sedimentary rock. This layer measures on the average 1,5 kilometre. It is followed by a five-kilometre thick layer of basalt or gabbro, which is penetrated by giant cones of magma streaming up from the earth's mantle. The temperature in the earth's interior rises in direct relation to the depth. Starting from the earth surface, we estimate that the temperature rises 30 degrees Celsius with each kilometre into the earth's interior.

The earth's mantle, situated underneath the earth's crust, represents approximately 82 percent of the earth's volume and 67 percent of its total mass. The seismic waves and volcanic debris provide information concerning its composition. Based on its physical properties, we can divide the relatively cool earth's mantle into upper and lower layers. Analogous to what is happening in the earth's crust, here, too, we register changes in the seismic waves. These changes occur in a specific area, in the depth of 100 to 200 kilometres. This region is called the Gutenberg Zone. It is possible, that the cause of the deviation of these waves is the convective flow in the interior of the earth.

The earth's crust and the upper part of the earth's mantle, up to the Gutenberg Zone, form the lithosphere. The asthenosphere, which is less firm, lies underneath. The asthenosphere and the lithosphere are interactive. When material from the asthenosphere rises in the Mid-Oceanic Ridge, it becomes lithosphere. In the subductive zones (when one plate slides underneath the neighbouring plate - proof-reader's note), the opposite occurs. In the middle of the earth's mantle the density increases and so does the speed of the seismic waves (P-waves). The lower part of the mantle consists mainly of silicon. Having a density of 9,4 gram per square centimetre it is connected to the earth's core. This region is called Wiechert-Gutenberg discontinuity.

We know relatively very little about the earth's core. Seismic waves penetrate the core only partially or are deflected by it. While its inner part, with a diameter of 2400 kilometres, consists of solid iron and nickel, the outer core, which is 2300 kilometres thick, is molten iron and nickel. According to calculations, the density of the earth's core is four times higher than the density of the earth's crust. Iron is the only substance we know that has this density, and it is therefore more than likely that it forms most of the earth's core

Formation of Natural Gas

When we use natural gas powered heaters and stoves in our homes, we usually neglect to ponder the fact that these modern conveniences are made possible by a natural substance of ancient origin. Even the electricity supplied by utility companies often relies on natural gas for production. Natural gas, which is composed primarily of methane, is an important source of energy in the world today, burning cleaner and producing less harmful emissions than other fuels. With the widespread use and reliance on natural gas, one can easily forget that this key source of energy originated from organisms which lived millions of years ago.

Several differing theories attempt to explain the true origin of natural gas, though the most widely accepted explanation is that natural gas forms from the remains of ancient microorganisms as well as plant and animal matter that have undergone conditions of extreme heat and pressure over very long periods of time. As such organic matter is buried by increasing amounts of mud and sediment over time, the resulting pressure forces it further underground, compressing the matter and subjecting it to the high temperatures that exist deep within the earth. Intense compression and high temperature conditions cause carbon bonds in the organic matter to break down, a chemical transformation resulting in the formation of natural gas and other fossil fuels.

Another way natural gas is formed is by microorganisms known as methanogens. Methanogens are microscopic organisms which live in environments devoid of oxygen and chemically decompose organic matter, creating methane as a byproduct. Contrary to the natural gas formed by compression of organic matter under intense pressure at great depths, methane created by methanogens is typically found closer to the earth's surface where the organisms live.

Once natural gas forms within the earth, its low density causes it to rise through the path of least resistance, often escaping the earth's crust and dissipating into the atmosphere. But natural gas deposits that are sought for extraction by companies such as Western Pipeline Corporation form when impermeable rock "traps" the natural gas within the earth, preventing it from escaping and causing it to collect, creating a reservoir.

Natural gas is usually located within such reservoirs floating atop oil deposits, which have formed reservoirs in much the same way. However, deposits containing only natural gas are not unusual. Both the oil and natural gas may be extracted by drilling into the impermeable rock restricting the fossil fuels to the reservoir. The natural pressure already present within the reservoir allows the fossil fuels to escape on their own once the rock containing them is penetrated.

Once natural gas is extracted from the earth, it is treated (if necessary) and distributed to supply the energy on which much of the world relies.

A Comparison Between Natural and Synthetic Products

There is growing concern regarding the use of natural products over synthetically engineered products. Many of today's ailments may be linked to the lack of natural products in our lives. It may be beneficial to detoxify your environment to promote overall health and wellness.

Natural health products, for example, may be more effective at being absorbed into the body. Synthetic products may have extra ingredients that are not necessarily healthy. Many synthetic products contain dyes, preservatives, and a multitude of other ingredients that do not offer any health benefit. These same ingredients may also contribute to allergies. Natural products offer the possibility of avoiding the chemicals contributing to allergies and other illnesses.

Take note that there is very little supporting documentation in support for either type of product. However, it is logical to conclude that utilizing natural health products in your life can only benefit you. Most natural health products come at a higher cost. This higher cost is no comparison to the possible health benefits in your life. Think about how nice it would be to control your allergies or illness using products that are all obtained from the highest quality sources and natural sources instead of synthetically created products.

For example, I have discovered personally that medicines prescribed for cholesterol management come with many side effects. Such as muscle pain and leg pain. Where as, I have found a couple of naturally based products that are helping me personally and I have seen no side effects to date. I've been taking the natural products for about a year now. There are a couple of natural products that I have found. They are derived from plants and/or soy protein.

Another finding which supports the concept that natural sources are better than synthetic is the research done on Vitamin E.

It was found that naturally obtained Vitamin E was absorbed and retained better than synthetic Vitamin E. Researchers have long known that natural vitamin E, milligram for milligram, is about 36 percent more potent than the synthetic form of the vitamin. In fact, the "international unit," or IU, standard was developed to compensate for these differences. But two studies using different groups of people - not laboratory animals - have found that natural vitamin E is utilized twice as efficiently as the synthetic form. "Natural vitamin E may cost twice as much , but you get twice as much bang for your buck," Graham W. Burton, PhD, told The Nutrition Reporter. Burton, a researcher at the National Research Council of Canada, Ottawa, directed one of the studies.(Retrieved from The Nutrition Reporter March 25,2006,

I can only speak from personal experience, but what I have learned so far is that the more natural you can make your environment the better. Remove the toxins from your environment it can only benefit you in the long run. How often have you heard about various everyday chemicals in our environment found to cause cancer? If we all work towards utilizing natural health products and household items containing more natural ingredients we might be able to prevent illnesses like cancer or control conditions like asthma and high cholesterol

Author Rich Marsiglia