Lithosphere
The last layer of the mantle working our way towards the crust is the lithosphere. The layer that the lithosphere “floats” on is the asthenosphere. The lithosphere is able to float on the asthenosphere because even though the asthenosphere is solid rock, it is under so much pressure that the rocks are able to flow in a liquid like state (National Geographic, 2015b). The lithosphere is comparable to the Earth’s crust, although the Earth’s crust is cooler and more rigid than the lithosphere (National Geographic, 2015d). “The lithosphere includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle and the crust” (National Geographic, 2015c, para. 1).
Within the lithosphere layer of the mantle there are two different types of lithosphere; continental and oceanic lithosphere – respectively associated with the layers of the crust – the continental and oceanic crust. The lithosphere is where tectonic activity is centrally located. “Tectonic activity describes the interaction of huge slabs of lithosphere called tectonic plates” (National Geographic, 2015c, para. 5). This activity is what creates earthquakes, volcanoes, and the formation of mountain ranges on the Earth crust. Because scientists have not been able to explore most of the interior of the Earth directly they have been able to use shock waves to differentiate the mantle from the core and the crust of the Earth (National Geographic, 2015d).
Within the lithosphere layer of the mantle there are two different types of lithosphere; continental and oceanic lithosphere – respectively associated with the layers of the crust – the continental and oceanic crust. The lithosphere is where tectonic activity is centrally located. “Tectonic activity describes the interaction of huge slabs of lithosphere called tectonic plates” (National Geographic, 2015c, para. 5). This activity is what creates earthquakes, volcanoes, and the formation of mountain ranges on the Earth crust. Because scientists have not been able to explore most of the interior of the Earth directly they have been able to use shock waves to differentiate the mantle from the core and the crust of the Earth (National Geographic, 2015d).