Editing Internal structure of Earth (section)

{{Short description|Interior of the earth}}
{{Distinguish|Earth structure}}
{{Geophysics|all}}
[[File:Earth Internal Structure.svg|thumb|307x307px|Geological cross section of Earth, showing the different layers of the interior.]]
The '''internal structure of Earth''' are the layers of the [[Earth]], excluding its [[Earth's atmosphere|atmosphere]] and [[hydrosphere]]. The [[structure]] consists of an outer [[silicate mineral|silicate]] solid [[crust (geology)|crust]], a highly [[viscosity|viscous]] [[asthenosphere]], and solid [[Mantle (geology)|mantle]], a liquid [[Earth's outer core|outer core]] whose flow generates the [[Earth's magnetic field]], and a solid [[Earth's inner core|inner core]].

Scientific understanding of the internal structure of [[Earth]] is based on observations of [[topography]] and [[bathymetry]], [[Observation|observations]] of [[rock (geology)|rock]] in [[outcrop]], samples brought to the surface from greater depths by [[volcano]]es or volcanic activity, analysis of the [[seismic wave]]s that pass through Earth, measurements of the [[Gravity of Earth|gravitational]] and [[Earth's magnetic field|magnetic fields]] of Earth, and experiments with crystalline solids at pressures and temperatures characteristic of Earth's deep interior.