Lithosphere

Lithosphere  

The outer most shell of every planet that has a rocky surface is what we call the lithosphere. In our planet, the lithosphere is composed of the crust and the upper mantle and is further divided into tectonic plates. The earth’s lithosphere has two types: the continental and the oceanic. By studying the earth’s lithosphere somehow we can learn more about our planet’s history. Scientist has now understood further how volcanoes erupt, how and where mountains will form and many more by learning about the lithosphere. We may not notice it in our everyday living but the tectonic plates where we are situated moves constantly. These movements, regardless of how little they may be, is the reason of the earth’s geographical features.

The Philippines is located on what we call the pacific ring of fire. As we know, the pacific ring of fire is a region that surrounds the majority of the Pacific Ocean Basin where high volcanic and seismic activities happens. This region is essentially a home of geological activities like volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, deep sea trenches and major fault zones. Knowing these facts, we should always consult geologist if we ever plan on building a house or any infrastructure so as to know whether the building site will be situated near a fault line. If so, it is better to look for another place or rather make the building sturdy and earthquake proof in case one should happen. People should also avoid settling near active volcanoes in case of eruption just like what happened in Mayon Volcano in Albay.