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The tectonic plates of the lithosphere on Earth Earth cutaway from center to surface, the lithosphere comprising the crust and lithospheric mantle (detail not to scale). A lithosphere (from Ancient Greek λίθος (líthos) 'rocky' and σφαίρα (sphaíra) 'sphere') is the rigid, [1] outermost rocky shell of a terrestrial planet or natural satellite.
The lithosphere–asthenosphere boundary lies between Earth's cooler, rigid lithosphere and the warmer, ductile asthenosphere. The actual depth of the boundary is still a topic of debate and study, although it is known to vary according to the environment.
Lithosphere – Outermost shell of a terrestrial-type planet or natural satellite; Ocean – Body of salt water covering most of Earth; Plate tectonics – Movement of Earth's lithosphere List of tectonic plate interactions – Types of plate boundaries; Supercontinent – Landmass comprising more than one continental core, or craton
Earth's lithosphere consists of the crust and the uppermost mantle. [16] The crust-mantle boundary occurs as two physically different phenomena. The Mohorovičić discontinuity is a distinct change of seismic wave velocity.
The lithosphere is broken into tectonic plates whose motion allows heat to escape the interior of Earth into space. The crust lies on top of the mantle, a configuration that is stable because the upper mantle is made of peridotite and is therefore significantly denser than the crust.
Earth cutaway from core to crust, the lithosphere comprising the crust and lithospheric mantle (detail not to scale) The lithospheric mantle is the portion of the lithosphere within the mantle, as opposed to the crust. It is solid, and is the uppermost part of the mantle.
The Earth's lithosphere rides atop the asthenosphere, and the two form the components of the upper mantle. The lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that are continuously being created or consumed at plate boundaries. Accretion occurs as mantle is added to the growing edges of a plate, associated with seafloor spreading. Upwelling beneath ...
Geophysicists explore the Earth's core and mantle as well as the tectonic and seismic activity of the lithosphere. [32] [33] [34] Geophysics is commonly used to supplement the work of geologists in developing a comprehensive understanding of crustal geology, particularly in mineral and petroleum exploration.