Earth lithosphere
E21755
The Earth lithosphere is the planet’s rigid outer shell, comprising the crust and uppermost mantle broken into tectonic plates that move and interact to shape Earth’s surface.
All labels observed (2)
| Label | Occurrences |
|---|---|
| Earth lithosphere canonical | 14 |
| Earth's lithosphere | 1 |
Statements (47)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
geological layer
ⓘ
tectonic shell ⓘ |
| averageAgeContinental | up to several billion years in cratons ⓘ |
| averageAgeOceanic | less than about 200 million years ⓘ |
| boundaryType |
convergent plate boundary
ⓘ
divergent plate boundary ⓘ transform plate boundary ⓘ |
| composedOf | solid rock ⓘ |
| contains | major mineral and energy resources ⓘ |
| defines | tectonic plate boundaries ⓘ |
| densityComparison | oceanic lithosphere is denser than continental lithosphere ⓘ |
| dividedInto | tectonic plates ⓘ |
| hasProperty |
brittle
ⓘ
rigid ⓘ |
| hasType |
continental lithosphere
ⓘ
oceanic lithosphere ⓘ |
| includes |
Earth crust
ⓘ
uppermost mantle ⓘ |
| influences |
distribution of continents and oceans
ⓘ
global carbon cycle via subduction and volcanism ⓘ long-term climate through tectonics ⓘ |
| involvedIn |
earthquake generation
ⓘ
mountain building ⓘ plate tectonics ⓘ volcanic activity ⓘ |
| mechanicallyDistinctFrom | asthenosphere ⓘ |
| motionDriver |
mantle convection
ⓘ
ridge push ⓘ slab pull ⓘ |
| movesOver | asthenosphere ⓘ |
| olderComponent | continental lithosphere ⓘ |
| overlies | asthenosphere ⓘ |
| partOf | Earth ⓘ |
| separatedFrom | asthenosphere by the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary ⓘ |
| studiedIn |
geology
ⓘ
geophysics ⓘ plate tectonics theory ⓘ |
| supports |
Earth topography
ⓘ
isostatic equilibrium of continents and oceans ⓘ |
| thermalControl | cooling thickens lithosphere over time ⓘ |
| thicknessRange |
about 50–100 km under typical ocean basins
ⓘ
about 5–10 km at mid-ocean ridges ⓘ up to about 200–250 km under stable continental cratons ⓘ |
| undergoes |
continental collision
ⓘ
seafloor spreading ⓘ subduction ⓘ |
| youngerComponent | oceanic lithosphere ⓘ |
Referenced by (15)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.
subject surface form:
Earth's atmosphere
this entity surface form:
Earth's lithosphere