Lithoplatten

Lithoplatten, or lithospheric plates, are the rigid outer layers of the Earth that make up the planet’s tectonic plates. They consist of the crust and the uppermost mantle and form a fragmented mosaic that moves slowly over the weaker, ductile asthenosphere beneath.

Two main types exist: continental lithosphere, which is thicker and less dense, and oceanic lithosphere, which is thinner and more mafic. Oceanic lithosphere is typically about 60 to 100 kilometers thick, while continental lithosphere can range from roughly 150 to 300 kilometers or more. The movement of these plates is driven by convection in the mantle, as well as forces at plate boundaries such as slab pull and ridge push.

Plate boundaries are zones where lithoplatten interact and are characterized by distinct geological activity. Divergent boundaries occur where plates move apart, creating new crust at mid-ocean ridges. Convergent boundaries involve collision, often leading to subduction of one plate beneath another and to mountain building. Transform boundaries slip past one another horizontally, producing frequent earthquakes. The interactions at these boundaries give rise to volcanism, earthquakes, and the formation of mountain belts and ocean basins.

Major lithoplatten include the Pacific, North American, Eurasian, African, Antarctic, Indian-Australian, and South American plates, along with numerous smaller plates. The theory of plate tectonics, developed in the mid-20th century, explains the movements and interactions of these plates and accounts for the global distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, and topographic features.