Lithosphere
By: Samuel M, Ben A, and Jordan E
What is The Lithosphere and Why is it Important?
- Oceanic lithosphere, which is the oceanic crust and is in the ocean basins (average density is of about 2.9 grams per cubic centimeter)
- Continental lithosphere, which is the continental crust (average density of about 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter)
What Animals Live in The Lithosphere
The Lithosphere is one of the most important layers of Earth because it is what all living organisms (as well as dead ones) live and thrive on top of. Every living life form, including humans, live on top of the Lithosphere, so without this layer of crust to separate us from the Asthenosphere, there wouldn’t be life. Those are the organisms that live on top of Lithosphere. Organisms that actually live in the Lithosphere includes: worms, moles, burrowing insects, rats, mice, foxes, wolves, plant roots, prairie dogs, groundhogs, meerkats, pupfish, and more. The Lithosphere is essential to life on Earth.
Plant and Animal Life in the Lithosphere
The Lithosphere is one of the most important layers of Earth because it is what all living organisms (as well as dead ones) live and thrive on top of. Every living life form, including humans, live on top of the Lithosphere, so without this layer of crust to separate us from the Asthenosphere, there wouldn’t be life. Those are the organisms that live on top of Lithosphere. Organisms that actually live in the Lithosphere includes: worms, moles, burrowing insects, rats, mice, foxes, wolves, plant roots, prairie dogs, groundhogs, meerkats, pupfish, and more. The Lithosphere is essential to life on Earth.
How Does The Lithosphere Interact with other Spheres
The lithosphere is only one of 5 spheres. All of these spheres interact to influence elements such as biodiversity, ocean salinity, and landscape. The pedosphere is the part of the lithosphere that is made of soil and dirt. The pedosphere was created by the interaction of the lithosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. The components of the biosphere, such as plant and animal remains, combine with the eroded rocks to create nutritious soil, also called the pedosphere.The lithosphere also interacts with the cryosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere to influence temperature changes on Earth.
Sources Cited
- http://eqseis.geosc.psu.edu/~cammon/HTML/Classes/IntroQuakes/Notes/Images_specific/plates.gif
http://education.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/lithosphere/
http://www.blueplanet.nsw.edu.au/SiteFiles/blueplanetnsweduau/lithosphere2.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Plates_tect2_en.svg