The lithosphere may be thickest at cratons, the oldest and most stable parts of the continental lithosphere. This beautiful map details the cratons of the continent of Gondwana, now South America and Africa.

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The lithosphere is just one of Earth’s five great spheres. The lithosphere interacts with the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere to influence the climate and landscape of our planet.

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The most well-known feature associated with Earth’s lithosphere is tectonic activity. Click below to visit our MapMaker Interactive layer displaying the lithosphere’s tectonic plates.
The lithosphere is thinnest at mid-ocean ridges, where tectonic plates are tearing apart from each other. Click below to visit our high-resolution map of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of the Earth. The lithosphere includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust, the outermost layers of Earth’s structure. It is bounded by the atmosphere above and the asthenosphere (another part of the upper mantle) below.

Although the rocks of the lithosphere are still considered elastic, they are not vicious. The asthenosphere is viscous, and the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) is the point where geologists and rheologists—scientists who study the flow of matter—mark the difference in ductility between the two layers of the upper mantle. Ductility measures a solid material’s ability to deform or stretch under stress. The lithosphere is far less ductile than the asthenosphere.

There are two types of lithosphere: oceanic lithosphere and continental lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere is associated with the oceanic crust and is slightly denser than the continental lithosphere.

Plate Tectonics

The most well-known feature associated with Earth’s lithosphere is tectonic activity. Tectonic activity describes the interaction of the huge slabs of lithosphere called tectonic plates.

The lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates including the North American, Caribbean, South American, Scotia, Antarctic, Eurasian, Arabian, African, Indian, Philippine, Australian, Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, and Nazca.

Most tectonic activity takes place at the boundaries of these plates, where they may collide, tear apart, or slide against each other. The movement of tectonic plates is made possible by thermal energy (heat) from the mantle part of the lithosphere. Thermal energy makes the rocks of the lithosphere more elastic.

Tectonic activity is responsible for some of Earth’s most dramatic geologic events: earthquakes, volcanoes, orogeny (mountain-building), and deep ocean trenches can all be formed by tectonic activity in the lithosphere.

Tectonic activity can shape the lithosphere itself: Both oceanic and continental lithospheres are thinnest at rift valleys and ocean ridges, where tectonic plates are shifting apart from one another.

How the Lithosphere Interacts with Other Spheres

The cool, brittle lithosphere is just one of five great “spheres” that shape the environment of Earth. The other spheres are the biosphere (Earth’s living things); the cryosphere (Earth’s frozen regions, including both ice and frozen soil); the hydrosphere (Earth’s liquid water); and the atmosphere (the air surrounding our planet). These spheres interact to influence such diverse elements as ocean salinity, biodiversity, and landscape.

For instance, the pedosphere is part of the lithosphere made of soil and dirt. The pedosphere is created by the interaction of the lithosphere, atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Enormous, hard rocks of the lithosphere may be ground down to powder by the powerful movement of a glacier (cryosphere). Weathering and erosion caused by wind (atmosphere) or rain (hydrosphere) may also wear down rocks in the lithosphere. The organic components of the biosphere, including plant and animal, remains, mix with these eroded rocks to create fertile soil—the pedosphere.

The lithosphere also interacts with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere to influence temperature differences on Earth. Tall mountains, for example, often have dramatically lower temperatures than valleys or hills. The mountain range of the lithosphere is interacting with the lower air pressure of the atmosphere and the snowy precipitation of the hydrosphere to create a cool or even icy climate zone. A region’s climate zone, in turn, influences adaptations necessary for organisms of the region’s biosphere.

Extraterrestrial Lithospheres

All terrestrial planets have lithospheres. The lithospheres of Mercury, Venus, and Mars are much thicker and more rigid than Earth’s.

The LAB

The depth of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) is a hot topic among geologists and rheologists. These scientists study the upper mantle’s viscosity, temperature, and grain size of its rocks and minerals. What they have found varies widely, from a thinner, crust-deep boundary at ocean ridges to a thick, 200-kilometer (124-mile) boundary beneath cratons, the oldest and most stable parts of the continental lithosphere.

The Earth is made up of layers. If the planet could be cut in half, the layers would look sort of like the inside of an onion.

The planet has a solid center that is very hot. This is called the inner core. The next layer is the outer core, which is liquid. The core is surrounded by a layer of melted rock. The melted rock moves like liquid.

This middle layer is called the mantle. The upper part of the mantle becomes solid. The outermost layer, called the crust, is solid, too. Together, these solid parts are called the lithosphere.

Earth’s crust is made up of hard rocks. It is the only part of the Earth that humans see.

There are two types of lithosphere. One is on land. The other makes up the ocean floor.

Moving, Sliding Plates

The lithosphere is divided into large chunks. These are called tectonic plates. These plates slowly “float” on top of melted rock beneath them.

Earthquakes happen when plates slide past each other. Deep trenches are created where plates tear apart. Mountains form where plates come together. Scientists study these processes or movements. They are part of what scientists call plate tectonics.

The Lithosphere And Climates

The lithosphere is affected by things like water, ice, and air. Together, these create different climates. Wind wears down rocks into sandy deserts. On tall mountains, cold air, and snow create icy slopes. Healthy soil and rain make it easy for living things to grow in the forest.

These environments are all very different. Plants and animals live in all of them. They have adapted. This means they have changed over many, many years. The changes help them to survive in their environments.

Lithospheres On Other Planets

Some other planets also have lithospheres. Mercury, Venus, and Mars all have a lithosphere. Their lithospheres are thicker than Earth’s lithosphere.

The Earth is made up of layers, much like the inside of an onion. At the center is the core. It is divided into the solid inner core and the liquid outer core. The core is the hottest part of the planet, and it is surrounded by a middle layer of melted rock that moves like a liquid, called the mantle.

The uppermost part of the mantle becomes solid. Above this is the crust. The crust is made up of hard rock and is the outer layer of the Earth. Together, these solid parts are known as the lithosphere.

Above the lithosphere is the atmosphere, which is the air that surrounds the planet. Below the lithosphere is the asthenosphere. In the asthenosphere, heat from the core causes rocks to melt. The melted rock in the asthenosphere moves like a thick, sticky liquid. Scientists have a name for the point where the lithosphere changes to the asthenosphere. It is called the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB).

There are two types of lithosphere. The Continental lithosphere is found on land, while the oceanic lithosphere makes up the sea floor.

Plate Tectonics

The lithosphere is divided into huge slabs called tectonic plates. The heat from the mantle makes the rocks at the bottom of the lithosphere slightly soft. This causes the plates to move. The movement of these plates is known as plate tectonics. The most tectonic activity takes place where these plates meet. They collide, tear apart, or slide against each other.

Tectonic activity is responsible for many natural events. These include earthquakes and volcanoes. Plate tectonics is what allows mountains and deep ocean trenches to form.

Our Planet’s Five Influences

The hard rock of the lithosphere is just one influence on the Earth. Ice, liquid water, air, and living things play an equal role in shaping the environment.

For example, the soil is created through a combination of environmental factors. Wind or rain can wear down rocks in the lithosphere. Then, plant and animal remains mix with these rocks to create fertile soil.

These five influences shape every environment on Earth. In mountain ranges, the lithosphere interacts with the thinner air and snow to create a cool or even icy climate zone. Wind can wear rocks into sandy deserts. Healthy soil and rain make it easy for living things to grow in the forest. Plants and animals have adapted over time to fit all of Earth’s environments.

Extraterrestrial Lithospheres

All non-gas planets have lithospheres, but they are not all alike. The lithospheres of Mercury, Venus, and Mars are much thicker and more rigid than Earth’s lithosphere.

The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of the Earth. It includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle as well as the crust, which is the outermost layer of the planet.

The lithosphere is located below the atmosphere, which is the air that surrounds the planet, and above the asthenosphere. The asthenosphere is made of melted rock that gives it a thick, sticky consistency. The lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) is the point where the solid lithosphere changes to the asthenosphere. The depth of the LAB is not fixed but instead changes from place to place.

There are two types of lithosphere. They are the oceanic lithosphere and continental lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere is slightly denser. The oceanic lithosphere includes the oceanic crust, which makes up the seafloor.

Plate Tectonics

The lithosphere is divided into huge slabs called tectonic plates. The heat from the mantle makes the rocks at the bottom of the lithosphere slightly elastic. This allows the plates to move. The movement of these plates is known as plate tectonics. Most tectonic activity takes place at the boundaries of these plates, where they collide, tear apart, or slide against each other.

Tectonic activity is responsible for many geologic events. Earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains, and deep ocean trenches can all form this way.

The Lithosphere And Other Spheres

The solid rock of the lithosphere is one of five systems that influence the planet. Other “spheres” include the biosphere (living things), the cryosphere (ice), the hydrosphere (liquid water), and the atmosphere (the air surrounding the planet).

These spheres influence all of the natural world. For example, it takes a combination of these systems to create soil. Wind or rain can wear down rocks in the lithosphere. Then, plant and animal remains mix with these eroded rocks to create fertile soil.

Together, these systems shape every environment on Earth. In tall mountain ranges of the lithosphere, the thinner air and precipitation combine to create a cool or even icy climate zone. Wind wears down rocks into sandy deserts. Healthy soil and rain make it easy for living things to grow in the forest. Plants and animals have adapted over time to fit these unique environments.

The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of the Earth. It includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust, the planet’s outermost layers. The lithosphere is located below the atmosphere and above the asthenosphere.

The asthenosphere is made of melted rock that gives it a thick, sticky consistency. It acts much more like a liquid than the lithosphere. The lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) is the point where the lithosphere changes to the asthenosphere. The depth of the LAB is not fixed but varies by region.

There are two types of lithosphere: oceanic lithosphere and continental lithospheres. The oceanic lithosphere is slightly denser and is associated with the oceanic crust, which makes up the seafloor.

Plate Tectonics

The lithospheres are divided into huge slabs called tectonic plates. There are eight major plates and several smaller plates, including the North American, Caribbean, South American, Scotia, Antarctic, Eurasian, Arabian, African, Indian, Philippine, Australian, Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, and Nazca plates.

The heat from the mantle makes the rocks at the bottom of the lithospheres slightly elastic, which allows the plates to move. The movement of these plates is known as plate tectonics. Most tectonic activity takes place at the boundaries of these plates, where they may collide, tear apart, or slide against each other.

Tectonic activity is responsible for some of Earth’s most dramatic geologic events. It is what forms earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain ranges, and deep ocean trenches. Both oceanic and continental lithospheres are thinnest at rift valleys and ocean ridges, where tectonic plates are shifting apart from one another.

The Lithosphere And Other Spheres

The solid rock of the lithospheres is one of five systems that shape the planet. Other “spheres” include the biosphere (living things), the cryosphere (ice and frozen soil), the hydrosphere (liquid water), and the atmosphere (the air surrounding the planet). Together, these spheres influence all of the natural world.

For example, it takes a combination of the systems to create the pedosphere or the part of the lithospheres made of soil and dirt. Hard rocks of the lithospheres might be ground down to powder by the powerful movement of an icy glacier. Weathering and erosion caused by wind or rain can also wear down rocks. Plants and animals that remain from the biosphere mix with these eroded rocks to create fertile soil, which is the pedosphere.

The interaction of these systems influences every environment on Earth. Tall mountains, for example, often have lower temperatures than valleys or hills. In high-altitude mountain ranges, the lithospheres interact with the thinner air and precipitation to create a cool or even icy climate zone. Over time, plants and animals have adapted to life in these unique environments.

The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of the Earth. The lithospheres include the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust, the outermost layers of Earth’s structure. It is bounded by the atmosphere above and the asthenosphere (another part of the upper mantle) below.

Although the rocks of the lithospheres are still considered elastic, they are not vicious. The asthenosphere is viscous, and the lithospheres-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) is the point where geologists and rheologists—scientists who study the flow of matter—mark the difference in ductility between the two layers of the upper mantle. Ductility measures a solid material’s ability to deform or stretch under stress. The lithosphere is far less ductile than the asthenosphere.

There are two types of lithospheres: oceanic lithospheres and continental lithospheres. Oceanic lithospheres are associated with oceanic crust and are slightly denser than continental lithospheres.

Plate Tectonics

The most well-known feature associated with Earth’s lithospheres is tectonic activity. Tectonic activity describes the interaction of the huge slabs of lithospheres called tectonic plates.

The lithospheres are divided into tectonic plates including the North American, Caribbean, South American, Scotia, Antarctic, Eurasian, Arabian, African, Indian, Philippine, Australian, Pacific, Juan de Fuca, Cocos, and Nazca.

Most tectonic activity takes place at the boundaries of these plates, where they may collide, tear apart, or slide against each other. The movement of tectonic plates is made possible by thermal energy (heat) from the mantle part of the lithospheres. Thermal energy makes the rocks of the lithospheres more elastic.

Tectonic activity can shape the lithospheres themselves: Both oceanic and continental lithospheres are thinnest at rift valleys and ocean ridges, where tectonic plates are shifting apart from one another.

How the Lithosphere Interacts with Other Spheres

The cool, brittle lithospheres are just one of five great “spheres” that shape the environment of Earth. The other spheres are the biosphere (Earth’s living things); the cryosphere (Earth’s frozen regions, including both ice and frozen soil); the hydrosphere (Earth’s liquid water); and the atmosphere (the air surrounding our planet). These spheres interact to influence such diverse elements as ocean salinity, biodiversity, and landscape.

For instance, the pedosphere is part of the lithospheres made of soil and dirt. The pedosphere is created by the interaction of the lithospheres, atmosphere, cryosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. Enormous, hard rocks of the lithospheres may be ground down to powder by the powerful movement of a glacier (cryosphere). Weathering and erosion caused by wind (atmosphere) or rain (hydrosphere) may also wear down rocks in the lithospheres. The organic components of the biosphere, including plant and animal, remains, mix with these eroded rocks to create fertile soil—the pedosphere.

The lithospheres also interact with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and cryosphere to influence temperature differences on Earth. Tall mountains, for example, often have dramatically lower temperatures than valleys or hills. The mountain range of the lithospheres is interacting with the lower air pressure of the atmosphere and the snowy precipitation of the hydrosphere to create a cool or even icy climate zone. A region’s climate zone, in turn, influences adaptations necessary for organisms of the region’s biosphere.

The article was originally published here.

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