P2+-+Lithosphere

=the lithosphere=

The lithosphere, Greek for "rocky sphere", is the outermost shell of the Earth. The term is also used to refer to the outermost rocky shell of other solid planets. The lithosphere consists of lithospheric plates, otherwise known as the tectonic plates, wich drift slowly over time periods of millions of years. Mt. Everest and the other Himalayas were formed when the tecttonic plate undderlying India forced its way upwards into Asia. The plates of plate tectonics are segments of the lithosphere. The lithosphere includes the crust (the rocks of the continents and the ocean floor) and the uppermost part of the mantle beneath the crust. These two layers are different in mineralogy but very similar mechanically, so for the most part they act as one plate. The lithosphere is not totally rigid, but slightly elastic. It flexes when loads are placed on it or removed from it. Ice-age glaciers are one type of load. In Antarctica, the ice cap has pushed the lithosphere well below sea level today, for example. In Canada and Scandinavia, the lithosphere is still rising from the removal of the glaciers about 10,000 years ago. Here are some other types of loading: Here are other examples of unloading:
 * Construction of volcanoes
 * Deposition of sediment
 * Rise in sea level
 * Large lakes and reservoirs
 * Erosion of mountains
 * Excavation of canyons and valleys
 * Drying up of large water bodies
 * Lowering of sea level