Is the lithosphere the same as the crust?

No. The lithosphere includes the crust AND the rigid, uppermost part of the mantle.

How thick is the Earth's lithosphere?

It varies from about 100 km under oceans to 200 km or more under continents.

Can other planets have a lithosphere?

Yes, the term is used in planetary science for the solid outer layer of rocky bodies like Mars or the Moon.

What is below the lithosphere?

The asthenosphere, a hotter, more ductile layer of the mantle on which the lithospheric plates move.

Is “lithosphere” formal?

Lithosphere is usually technical, academic in register.

How do you pronounce “lithosphere”?

Lithosphere: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪθ.ə.sfɪər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪθ.ə.sfɪr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

lithosphere: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Low

UK/ˈlɪθ.ə.sfɪər/US/ˈlɪθ.ə.sfɪr/

Technical, Academic

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “lithosphere” mean?

The rigid, outermost layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost mantle.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The rigid, outermost layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost mantle.

In a broader planetary science context, it can refer to the outermost solid shell of any rocky planet or natural satellite.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Pronunciation differs subtly.

Connotations

Identical technical connotation in both dialects.

Frequency

Used with the same low, specialised frequency in both dialects.

Grammar

How to Use “lithosphere” in a Sentence

the lithosphere of [planet/moon]lithosphere beneath [region]lithosphere consists oflithosphere is broken into

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

continental lithosphereoceanic lithosphererigid lithospheresubducting lithosphere

medium

thickness of the lithosphereplatedeformationbeneath

weak

studystructurelayermodel

Examples

Examples of “lithosphere” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

The lithospheric plates are in constant motion.

American English

Lithospheric thickness varies between continents and oceans.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Not used.

Academic

Primary domain of use. E.g., 'The paper examines thermal evolution of the Martian lithosphere.'

Everyday

Virtually never used.

Technical

Core domain of use in geology and geophysics.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “lithosphere”

Neutral

Earth's crust and upper mantle

Weak

rocky shellouter layer

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “lithosphere”

asthenosphere

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “lithosphere”

Mispronunciation: /laɪ-/ instead of /lɪθ-/.
Confusing it with the crust alone (the lithosphere includes the uppermost mantle).

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No. The lithosphere includes the crust AND the rigid, uppermost part of the mantle.
: It varies from about 100 km under oceans to 200 km or more under continents.
: Yes, the term is used in planetary science for the solid outer layer of rocky bodies like Mars or the Moon.
: The asthenosphere, a hotter, more ductile layer of the mantle on which the lithospheric plates move.
: The rigid, outermost layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and the uppermost mantle.
: Lithosphere is usually technical, academic in register.
: Lithosphere: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪθ.ə.sfɪər/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪθ.ə.sfɪr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

LITHO (stone/rock) + SPHERE (ball/layer). Think of the rocky layer of the Earth.

Conceptual Metaphor

The Earth's rigid 'shell' or 'plates' floating on a softer layer.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The tectonic plates are segments of the Earth's rigid outer layer, known as the .

Multiple Choice

The lithosphere is primarily composed of which two parts?