Lithosphere

Lithosphere

The ground on which we stand is the part we usually realize of the lithosphere (from Greek lithos for stone), which comprises the solid outermost layers of the Earth, its crust and its upper mantle. The lithosphere is the frame for geologic processes on shorter timescales such as volcanism and earthquakes. Additionally, here extremely slow processes such as continental drift, the formation of mountains and the erosion of landscapes take place.

The lithosphere is the most stable of the spheres of the system Earth. Nevertheless, in addition to the mentioned processes human activities influence the lithosphere. Mining and construction works have a direct impact. Indirectly humanity influences the lithosphere via climate change, which among others has an impact on the stability of slopes and on the intensity of landscape erosion.

Select your Case Study:

Tectonic Processes and Erosion
	Himalayas Folding, India The Himalayan mountain ridge is the result of the collision of two tectonic plates.
	East African Rift Valley, Ethiopia Along the East African Rift Valley the Somalia Plate splits from the African Plate, forming a unique landscape.
	Erosion in the Himalayas, China/Nepal Glacial and fluvial erosion are important processes forming the landscapes of the Himalayas.
	Grand Canyon, U.S.A. Over millions of years the Colorado River has carved the Grand Canyon into the flat Colorado Plateau.
Volcanoes and Volcanism
	Mount Etna, Italy Mount Etna is the highest and one of the most active volcanoes in Europe.
	La Palma, Spain The 2021 eruption on the island of La Palma caused widespread destruction.
	Grindavík, Iceland Eruptions on Iceland forming new Earth crust.
	Kilimanjaro, Tanzania The highest mountain in Africa is a volcano with a glacier around its peak.
Mining Activities
	Aitik, Sweden Copper mining at the Aitik mine has drastically changed the landscape.
	Bełchatów, Poland Over the years, the open pit lignite mine follows the lignite deposits.
	Salar de Atacama, Chile The need for lithium for batteries increases the saltpans, by which it is extracted.
	Madre de Dios, Peru Goldmining changes rainforests into a landscape with poisonous ponds.