Earth's lithosphere, which constitutes the hard and rigid outer vertical layer of the Earth, includes the crust and the lithospheric mantle (or mantle lithosphere), the uppermost part of the mantle that is not …

Nov 27, 2025 · Lithosphere, rigid, rocky outer layer of Earth, consisting of the crust and the solid outermost layer of the upper mantle. It extends to a depth of about 60 miles (100 km). The …

Nov 29, 2023 · The lithosphere is the solid, outer part of 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 …

Nov 29, 2023 · The lithosphere is the Earth's outermost, rigid solid layer, with the crust and brittle upper mantle. It is divided into tectonic plates.

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth, composed of the crust and the uppermost portion of the mantle. It plays a crucial role in the movement of tectonic plates, which interact at various plate …

The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of Earth, extending about 100 kilometers deep, and is divided into roughly ten major tectonic plates. These plates float atop a semi-fluid layer called the asthenosphere, …

The meaning of LITHOSPHERE is the solid part of a celestial body (such as the earth); specifically : the outer part of the solid earth composed of rock essentially like that exposed at the surface, consisting …

The Four Layers The Earth is composed of four different layers. Many geologists believe that as the Earth cooled the heavier, denser materials sank to the center and the lighter materials rose to the …

An essential feature of plate tectonics is that only the outer shell of the earth, the lithosphere, remains rigid during long intervals of geologic time. Because of their low temperatures, rocks in the …

Explore the Earth's lithosphere — its definition, types, layers, components, and interaction with other spheres. Learn how tectonic plates shape our planet's surface.