Which term describes the solid outer layer of the Earth including crust and upper mantle?

Which term describes the solid outer layer of the Earth including crust and upper mantle?

• A. Biosphere
• B. Open System
• C. Closed System
• D. Lithosphere

Answer: (D)

The solid outer shell of the Earth, including the crust and the upper mantle, is called the lithosphere. This rigid layer forms the tectonic plates that float on and interact with the underlying, more ductile mantle. That makes lithosphere the best term for describing Earth’s outermost solid shell. The biosphere refers to all living matter and its environments, not the physical shell of the planet. Open system and closed system describe how a system exchanges energy or matter with its surroundings, which is about process, not identifying a specific Earth layer.

The solid outer shell of the Earth, including the crust and the upper mantle, is called the lithosphere. This rigid layer forms the tectonic plates that float on and interact with the underlying, more ductile mantle. That makes lithosphere the best term for describing Earth’s outermost solid shell.

The biosphere refers to all living matter and its environments, not the physical shell of the planet. Open system and closed system describe how a system exchanges energy or matter with its surroundings, which is about process, not identifying a specific Earth layer.