The lithosphere is the outermost solid layer of the Earth, understand its characteristics, composition and formation
The Earth is made up of different layers along its 12,700 km diameter. All life on the planet is supported by its outermost layer, the lithosphere. Its name comes from the Greek: “lithos” means stone, rock, which already gives an idea of what it is.
- What is Atmosphere? Understand your layers and training
- What are tectonic plates? Know your maps and your movements!
The lithosphere is part of a classification that divides the layers of the planet according to its physical state. As the name indicates, it is made up of rocks and forms the first solid layer of the planet, from the outside in.
You may have heard from the earth’s crust, another way of classifying the outermost layer of the Earth. It is part of another model, the geochemical model, which divides the planet into crust, mantle and core. The lithosphere encloses the crust and the most solid part of the earth’s mantle, understand in detail what it is and how it was formed.
Formation and characteristics
Our planet hasn’t been the same since your training, about 4.5 billion years ago, and continues to undergo continuous transformations. In the beginning, the Earth was a glowing sphere, which has cooled over time. In this process, its outermost part solidified, generating the lithosphere.
The lithosphere has a variable depth, ranging from 5 to 100 kilometers. Its composition are minerals and rocksfound in three forms: sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic.
It is not perfectly continuous, the lithosphere is divided into huge blocks that correspond to tectonic plates. Therefore, it is always in motion, as well as being subject to volcanic activity. These two factors provide a constant exchange of material with the lower layer.
What are the other layers?
Below the lithosphere we find the asthenosphere, the mesosphere and finally the endosphere. The asthenosphere is the rest of the mantle, which has a viscous behavior, and extends up to about 700 kilometers deep. Beyond that is a solid transition zone before the core, the mesosphere.
Finally, the endosphere is the innermost layer of the planet and corresponds to its core. It begins at a depth of 2,900 kilometers and is initially liquid, becoming solid at about 5,000 kilometers.
Trending on Canaltech:
- The 15 best movies of 2022
- The 10 best movies on Netflix in 2022
- Scientists reveal who was in lead coffins hidden at Notre Dame
- NASA plans emergency rescue of astronauts ‘stranded’ on ISS
- White Noise Review | A delightful cacophony, but not for everyone
- Do you know the difference between the mosquito and the dengue mosquito?
+The best content in your email for free. Choose your favorite Terra newsletter. Click here!
Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
