The asthenosphere.
As odd as it is to think of things this way, continental lithosphere is more buoyant than oceanic lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere is more dense.
As odd as it is to think of things this way, continental lithosphere is more buoyant than oceanic lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere is more dense.
As odd as it is to think of things this way, continental lithosphere is more buoyant than oceanic lithosphere. The oceanic lithosphere is more dense.
The older, denser oceanic lithosphere will subduct beneath the younger, less dense oceanic lithosphere. This process can lead to the formation of deep ocean trenches, volcanic island arcs, and earthquakes. The descending plate may partially melt, contributing to the formation of magma that can erupt as volcanoes.
Oceanic lithosphere is denser than continental lithosphere, so it is more likely to be subducted during a collision. The downward force exerted by the dense oceanic plate causes it to sink beneath the less dense continental plate. Furthermore, oceanic lithosphere is typically thinner and more malleable, making it easier to be forced beneath the continental lithosphere.
The crust is part of the lithosphere, so there is no boundary between them. There is a boundary between the crust and the other part of the lithosphere which is the uppermost mantle. It is called the Mohorovicic Discontinuity or the 'Moho' for short.
The lithosphere has the highest density among the three Earth layers. The lithosphere is composed of solid rock, while the hydrosphere is made up of water and the atmosphere contains gases. The lithosphere's density is influenced by its composition and the pressure it is under.
Oceanic lithosphere is dense enough to be forced down into the mantle. Continental lithosphere is not.
Lithosphere
Oceanic lithosphere plunges beneath an overriding continental plate at a convergent boundary, specifically at a subduction zone. The denser oceanic plate is forced beneath the less dense continental plate due to tectonic forces, leading to the formation of deep oceanic trenches and volcanic arcs on the overriding plate.
The density of Earth's lithosphere is 2.5 gm/cm^3
The rock beneath the continents is primarily composed of granite and other metamorphic rocks such as gneiss and schist. These rocks are older and less dense than the oceanic crust, forming the thick, continental lithosphere that supports the continents.