In what ways does the Earth's upper/lower mantle affect human life?
369103
Well, the upper mantle, more specifically the asthenosphere, is a plastic- by which I mean solid but able to flow- layer on which all of the crustal plates "float". Therefore, you can say that the asthenosphere is responsible for continental drift, and is thus the direct cause of earthquakes, volcanoes, and all other geologic events on our fair blue planet. Come to think of it, the mantle can be said to be one of the factors that influenced life itself in its long development over the past 3.8 billion years! As the earth's crust cooled, volcanoes-caused by upwellings in the mantle- released carbon dioxide and other compounds into the primordial atmosphere that were used by early life for nourishment. They also released a portion of the water vapor that now exists as a liquid across 2/3 the Earth's surface as water. Therefore, the mantle, in a way, is directly related to the origin of life, and, in turn, human life.
556264
Most people would find this funny but there is actually a strong relation between the two. The latest researches in the field indicates a direct implication shifting reason for highly populated areas. \n\nIt is not due to drawing underground water or fossil fuel but its due to sustained pressure torques generated due to heavily populated areas. Its not the weight of a human body but due to all the infrastructure we create to sustain that population. The high rise buildings, the constant shifting of load patterns shear the tectonic plates over  long period of time and it may lead to internal imbalances leading to earthquakes.\nVery intelligent question!
1036795
There is an extremely high amount of pressure and weight underground. Things get compacted because of it. There are some parts of the surface of the Earth that we still can't explore because we haven't got the technology to withstand the pressure. (Mariana Trench)
397779
Most of the earth is made of iron and nickel.  This might not appear to be true at first because we see that the ground does not feel like metal, but the earth's inner and outer cores consist primarily of molten iron and nickel.  The earth's crust is only a few miles thick (at the thickest) and floats on top of the molten layers.
973601
well since uranium is dense if it were no longer on the earth, the earth would be less dense. therefore it would have less mass. thus the gravitational pull would be less powerful thus there would be many changes to our lifestyle.\n\nwow i would of never thought of that myself.
585860
there is a hot core in the center of the earth, this escapes from fissures in the earths crust,finding its way up and out of the earth surface through fractures in the platelets. on these platelets the lava flows and when cooled becomes rock hard. when this happens in a volcano type of environment the pressure builds up over time, and the result is the "Blowing of the top/side" of the volcano, causing molten lava to flow, often causing damage to human, and plant life, that is around the base of the volcano..
179806
At the center of the earth the effects of the increasing pressure (which will cause the ball to implode) are greater than the effects of the increasing temperature (which would make the gases inside the ball expand to such an extent that the ball would explode) so the ball would implode. Studies of the seismic waves from earthquakes travelling through the earth tell us that the very center of the earth's core is actually solid, the hot material crushed into a solid form by the pressure. The outer layers of the core are liquid due to the high temperatures at lower pressure.
400811
Well, from what I know, there are two major concentrations of radioactive elements and isotopes: The Earth's core, where heavy elements differentiated from lighter ones while the Earth was molten about 4 billion years ago, and the crust, where more recent processes have allowed radioactive elements to exist. I guess your variation would be up- down -up. Sorry, I don't know where I learned this, so I can't give you a definate source. However, from my exerience, Wikipedia knows pert near everything, so maybe try it.
906697
Humans have made huge impacts on the physical environment by logging, farming, building, and really just existing. The problem is the rate of change is accelerating as the population grows exponentially and people become industrialised and require more and more. The earth really cannot sustain this growth in all aspects of people greed and need. There is no easy way to slow it let alone stop it.\n\nAs a planet we are doomed! not tomorrow but before this century is out.
1182824
I don't think so. The Earths magnetic field is generated by the dynamo effect of the solid Ni-Fe core spinning at a different rate to the liquid Ni-Fe core around it. I can't see how humans can effect that process.\n\nI guess it might be possible to modify the magnetic field locally be producing another field that interferes with it....but I doubt we're doing anything strong enough to do that. The polar shift of the magnetic field is a natural process that has occurred thousands of times.\n\nTo answer 'my girls' question...the earths magnetic field protects us rather than harms us. If it didn't exist, we'd have little protection against the harmful radiation produced by our sun.
45948
Actually the CORE of the earth is one of the layers. It is liquid. The earth is like a tootsie pop: hard outer shell, creamy middle.
1173782
Even though I like Oz's answer, it is actually the flow of magma in the Earth's mantle on average about 30 miles below the surface, where molten rock flows from high to low, nearing the earth's outer core where the temprature reaches to near 10000 degrees F.  Another heating element (or actually energy element, that has a side effect of heating) is radioactive decay.  Though most of the Earth's heat energy is released throught the much thinner parts of the crust that makes up the ocean floors.
125194
The Earth consists of several atmospheric, hydrologic, and mainly geologic layers. Its components are the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the crust, the mantle, and its core. The biosphere is a tiny layer in this composition and is usually not considered part of the physical layers of the Earth.\n\nThe geologic component layers of the Earth are located at the following depths below surface:\n\n0 to 60 km - Lithosphere (locally varies between 5 and 200 km) \n0 to 35 km - Crust (locally varies between 5 and 70 km) \n35 to 60 km - Uppermost part of mantle \n35 to 2890 km - Mantle \n100 to 700 km - Asthenosphere \n2890 to 5100 km - Outer core \n5100 to 6378 km - Inner core \n\nArea:\n\nTotal: 510.073 million km2 \nland: 148.94 million km2 \nWater: 361.132 million km2 \nNote: 70.8 % of the world's surface is covered by water, 29.2 % is exposed land \nLand boundaries: the land boundaries in the world total 251,480 km (not counting shared boundaries twice)\n\nCoastline: 356,000 km\n\nMaritime claims: see United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea\n\nLand use\nArable land: 10% \nPermanent crops: 1% \nPermanent pastures: 26% \nForests and woodland: 32% \nUrban areas: 1.5% \nOther: 30% (1993 est.) \nIrrigated land: 2,481,250 km2 (1993 est.)\n\n\nContiguous zone: 24 nautical miles (44 km) claimed by most, but can vary \nContinental shelf: 200 m depth claimed by most or to depth of exploitation; others claim 200 nautical miles (370 km) or to the edge of the continental margin \nExclusive fishing zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km) claimed by most, but can vary \nExclusive economic zone: 200 nautical miles (370 km) claimed by most, but can vary \nTerritorial sea: 12 nautical miles (22 km) claimed by most, but can vary \nNote: boundary situations with neighboring states prevent many countries from extending their fishing or economic zones to a full 200 nautical miles (370 km) \n42 nations and other areas are completely landlocked (see list of landlocked countries)
27423
There are a few main parts to the earth. The earth is like a tootsie pop: a hard crunchy exterior, and it is soft inside. They are in roughly concentric spheres. The main layers of the earth are called the crust, the mantle and the core. \n\nThe outside shell of the earth is called the crust. The crust is about 5-60 kilometers thick and forms about 1% of the volume of the earth. We live on the crust. \n\nUnder the crust is a very large part of the earth called the mantle. The mantle is about 84% of the volume of the earth. The mantle is about 2800 kilometers thick.\n\nInside the mantle, is the soft middle of the earth, called the core. The core is roughly a round ball, and is about 15% of the volume of the earth, and has a radius of about 3400 Km. \n\nOf course, one can get much more detailed, but this is enough to give you a start, so you can understand what you read on the internet.
1012929
a good article about Earth science from Wikipedia.\nhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_science\n\nsuch questions you should check wikipedia before using Yahoo answers.
19060
Inner Core: 1,221 km (759 miles)\nOuter Core: 2,259 km (1404 miles)\nLower Mantle: 2,171 km  (1345 miles)\nUpper Mantle: 720 km  (447 miles)\n\nThe page linked as a source below will give you a great introduction to the internal structre of the Earth.
733424
The earth is made of around 6 major plates with a number of smaller plates. These plates which are part of the earths crust are floating on an area of the earth just below the crust known as the mantle. The mantle is basically very viscous magma which isn't a liquid but at the same time not solid. Its really disgusting but think of it as tramped dog poo. These plates are floating on this material. The mantle is producing whats known as convection currents. These currents are rotating very slowly in different areas. Some currents are spinning clockwise and others are spinning counter clockwise. One plate is sitting on one current with the other sitting on the other current. Because the currents are spinning in opposite directions the plates slowly move apart. These are known as divergent plates. Other plates and pushing together and are known as convergent boundary's. The the plates are either pushing against each causing mountains to form such as the Himalayas or splitting apart as in the case of Africa and south America. Mount Everest is actually growing in height a couple cm a year.