MOHOROVICIC DISCONTINUITY Meaning and
Definition
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The Mohorovičić discontinuity, also known as the Moho, is a significant boundary in the Earth's crust, marking the distinction between the Earth's mantle and the underlying Earth's crust. It was named after the Croatian seismologist Andrija Mohorovičić, who first discovered this boundary in 1909.
The Mohorovičić discontinuity is characterized by a sudden change in seismic wave velocities, which occurs at an average depth of about 35 kilometers beneath the continents and around 5 to 10 kilometers beneath the ocean floors. At this boundary, there is a marked increase in the speed of the compressional P-waves, which are seismic waves that travel through solids, compared to their speeds in the crust. Additionally, there is a significant decrease in the speed of the shear S-waves, which are seismic waves that only propagate through solids.
The presence of the Mohorovičić discontinuity provides valuable insight into the structure and composition of the Earth's interior. It signifies the transition from the relatively rigid and brittle crust to the more ductile and solid mantle. The discovery and understanding of this boundary have aided in the comprehension of seismic activity, geological processes, and the different layers that make up the Earth's structure.
In conclusion, the Mohorovičić discontinuity is a significant boundary in the Earth's crust that demarcates the transition between the mantle and the crust. Its discovery has greatly contributed to the field of seismology and our understanding of the Earth's interior.
Common Misspellings for MOHOROVICIC DISCONTINUITY
- nohorovicic discontinuity
- kohorovicic discontinuity
- johorovicic discontinuity
- mihorovicic discontinuity
- mkhorovicic discontinuity
- mlhorovicic discontinuity
- mphorovicic discontinuity
- m0horovicic discontinuity
- m9horovicic discontinuity
- mogorovicic discontinuity
- moborovicic discontinuity
- monorovicic discontinuity
- mojorovicic discontinuity
- mouorovicic discontinuity
- moyorovicic discontinuity
- mohirovicic discontinuity
- mohkrovicic discontinuity
- mohlrovicic discontinuity
- mohprovicic discontinuity
- moh0rovicic discontinuity
Etymology of MOHOROVICIC DISCONTINUITY
The term "Mohorovičić discontinuity" is named after Andrija Mohorovičić, a Croatian seismologist who discovered this seismic boundary in 1909. The word "discontinuity" refers to a break or interruption in a structural or geological feature. In this context, it signifies the boundary between the Earth's crust and the underlying mantle. Since Mohorovičić was the first scientist to identify and describe this boundary, it was named after him to honor his contribution to the field of seismology.
