lithosphere

(noun)

The rigid, mechanically strong, outer layer of the earth; divided into twelve major tectonic plates.

Related Terms

Examples of lithosphere in the following topics:

  • Mars and a Biosphere

    • A biosphere can also be thought of as an global ecological system that incorporates all living beings and their relationships with the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere.

  • The Carbon Cycle

    • Much of the carbon on the earth's lithosphere (about 80%) is stored in limestone, which was formed from the calcium carbonate from the shells of marine animals.