The lithosphere is the solid part of the earth. It consists of three main layers, which is crust, mantle, and core.
EXPLANATION
The lithosphere is the most solid, rigid, and outmost shell of a terrestrial-type planet or natural satellite. The earth also has its lithosphere. The lithosphere on earth is composed of the crust and upper mantle that is elastic on time scales of thousands of years or greater. The layer underneath the lithosphere is called the asthenosphere.
The earth’s lithosphere consists of a crust and topmost mantle, which is the constitution of the hard layer of the earth. The lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates. The uppermost part of the lithosphere, which is the mantle, reacts to the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere through a process called pedosphere. The pedosphere is a soil-forming process.
The lithosphere is caused by the hotter, deeper, and also weaker part of the upper mantle, which is asthenosphere. The boundary of lithosphere and asthenosphere is defined by a difference in response to stress. The asthenosphere accommodates strains and deforms harshly through plastic deformation, whereas the lithosphere stays hard and rigid for a long time and will deform elastically and through fragile failure.
Theoretically, there are two kinds of the lithosphere:
1. Continental lithosphere
Continental lithosphere is related to continental crust, where the mean density is about 2.7 grams / cubic centimetre.
2. Oceanic lithosphere
Oceanic lithosphere is related to an oceanic crust. Oceanic lithosphere exists in the ocean basins, where the mean density is about 2.9 grams / cubic centimetre.
LEARN MORE
If you’re interested in learning more about this topic, we recommend you to also take a look at the following questions:
Relationship between crust and lithosphere: brainly.com/question/8988364
Which lithosphere is lighter? brainly.com/question/11292361
KEYWORD: lithosphere, earth, layers
Subject: Geography
Class: 10-12
Subchapter: Lithosphere
