What are some characteristics of earths lithosphere?

Answer 1

Tectonic plates are the sections of the earth's crust which move about. You get Continental plates (with continets on top) and oceanic plates (with oceans on top). Continental ones are less dense, so they "float" on top of the denser oceanic plates whenever they collide. Continental is made of granite, whereas oceanic is made of basalt, due to the rapid cooling of the magma as it meets the sea. Because the oceanic is being constantly renewed, it isn't very old - only about 180 million years, whereas the continental crust is up to 4 billion years old.

Answer 2

The asthenosphere is a particular component of the structure of the Earth. The temperature of it approaches, but does not exceed, the melting point of the rocks, giving them a plastic quality. This enables the oceanic and continental plates to slide on it, which is the reason behind plate tectonics. The asthenosphere goes from a depth of 100/150km to 300km.

Answer 3

On planet earth, it is the hard portion: the crust and the upper mantle.

Answer 4

Lithosphere: brittle, hard, relatively colder, less dense. (where earthquakes happen due to sudden slips in rock)