Among the layers that form our planet, the earth's crust and lithosphere are distinguished. However, not everyone understands whether we are talking about two separate objects from each other, or different words mean the same thing. To clarify the subject matter, we will find out how the earth's crust differs from the lithosphere.
Definition
The Earth's crust is the outer, relatively thin shell of the Earth, bordering at the bottom with the mantle.
The lithosphere is the shell of the Earth, covering the entire earth's crust and partly the mantle (its upper layer).
Comparison
Thus, talking directly about the difference between the earth's crust and the lithosphere is somewhat illogical, since the earth's crust is one from the components of the lithosphere. However, in some cases, the object of observation is precisely the earth's crust, and in others, a more extensive zone, which also includes a layer of the mantle.
For example, information concerning the structure of the earth's crust is of great importance for science. It is considered as the shell of the Earth, inhomogeneous in its composition. It has been established that under the waters of the oceans, the crust has sedimentary and basalt layers, and in the open areas of the planet (continents) it also contains an extensive granite layer. In addition, there are transition areas, during which there is a smooth "overflow" of the continental crust into the oceanic one. Why do you need to know about the structure of the earth's crust? For example, for locating minerals.
Now let's turn to the study of the lithosphere. In this case, the emphasis is on the processes occurring in it. It was found that the mantle layer in the composition of the lithosphere is rigid. And below there is a plastic mantle:
The lithosphere itself, according to research, consists of plates of different sizes. These plates are movable. They very slowly, but constantly move along the soft mantle, then approaching each other, then diverging. The earth's crust, which is part of the lithospheric plates, is also in continuous motion, which leads to a change in the location of continents and oceans on the planet's surface.
Observations of ongoing processes make it possible to explain many phenomena and predict natural disasters, such as earthquakes and landslides. The data obtained also helps to select the most suitable places for the construction of some objects. In addition, research provides an opportunity to predict what the Earth will look like in the future.
So, trying to answer the question, what is the difference between the earth's crust and the lithosphere, we have established that these names should not be identified with each other. In certain cases, it is appropriate to consider the earth's crust as an independent object, in others, the lithosphere and the processes occurring in it are significant as a whole.
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