Answer – The lithosphere is the outermost solid shell of the Earth composed of the crust and the brittle, uppermost part of the mantle.
Explanation:
The term ‘lithosphere’ comes from two Greek words – lithos meaning ‘stone/rock’ and sphaira meaning ‘globe/ball.’ Thus, the lithosphere is the solid, rocky part of the Earth. It comprises the crust and the topmost part of the upper mantle with a thickness ranging from 60 miles (100 km) to 190 miles (300 km). It occurs between the atmosphere and the asthenosphere.
The lithosphere is further broken up into several strong sections that move gradually and independently of one another. This movement, known as plate tectonics, is responsible for earthquakes as well as the formation of mountains and volcanoes.
There are two types of lithosphere: oceanic and continental. Oceanic lithosphere is linked to the oceanic crust and occurs in ocean basins. It is denser than continental lithosphere, which is associated with the continental crust and makes up the continents & their shelves.
