1. Lithosphere - The earth’s outer layer
consisting of the soil and rocks is
the lithosphere.
2. • Plant grow and decay on soil covering the rock
• Soil is the major component of the lithosphere
• The major components of soil are
air, water, minerals and inorganic matter.
• The yield of crop depends solely on soil and
crop management strategies.
3. There are two types of lithosphere:
• Oceanic lithosphere, which is associated
with Oceanic crust and exists in the ocean
basins
• Continental lithosphere, which is associated
with Continental crust
4. The lithosphere is about 100 km thick(64 to
96), although its thickness is age dependent
(older lithosphere is thicker).
The upper most part of the lithosphere(crust)
is rich in silica(si) and aluminium (Al) and is
known as SiAl layer
The continents belongs to the SiAl layer and
are made up off granite rock
5. • The zone next to the SiAl is rich in silica(Si) and
magneium(Mg) this layer is formed of basalt
rock and constitute the ocean floors.
• The basalt rocks are heavier than the rocks
formed by SiAl layer
• Below the SiMg layer the density of the layers
increases with depth
• Such difference in density constitute the layers
to float one over the other
6.
7. • In the Earth, the lithosphere includes the crust
and the uppermost mantle, which constitute
the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth.
• All terrestrial planets have lithospheres. The
lithospheres of Mercury, Venus, and Mars are
much thicker and more rigid than Earth's.
8. • The lithosphere is always moving, but very slowly.
• It is broken into huge sections called tectonic
plates.
• The extreme heat from the mantle part of the
lithosphere makes it easier for the plates to
move.
• The movement of the lithosphere, called plate
tectonics, is the reason behind a lot of Earth's
most dramatic geologic events.
• When one plate moves beneath another, or when
two plates rub together, they can
create earthquakes and volcanoes.
9. • Below the lithosphere lies the mantle (thickness
2400 km)
• The upper most part of the mantle is known as
the Asthenosphere, lower mantle is called
Mesosphere
• The inner part of the earth is called the
core, which consists of minerals such as
iron, nickel, cobalt mixed with sulphur and silica.
• The core consists of outer core and inner core
• The inner core appears to be solid while the outer
core is molten and metallic (temperature 5000
and 5500)