The boundary between Earth's crust and mantle is called what?

Prepare for the Earth Science and Environmental Pollution Test. Study with engaging quizzes and detailed explanations on complex topics. Master your exam preparation here!

Multiple Choice

The boundary between Earth's crust and mantle is called what?

Explanation:
Seismic waves reveal abrupt changes in rock properties where one layer ends and another begins, shown by a noticeable jump in wave speeds. The boundary between the crust and the mantle is called the Mohorovicic discontinuity, or the Moho. It marks a change from crustal rocks to mantle rocks, and wave speeds increase once you cross into the mantle due to higher density and different mineral composition. Depths vary: roughly about 30 km beneath continents and about 7–10 km beneath oceans, with larger variations in different regions. Other terms refer to different boundaries: the Gutenberg discontinuity is the boundary between the mantle and outer core; the Lehmann boundary is between the outer and inner core; and the boundary commonly associated with the upper mantle and lithosphere (often called the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary) is not the crust–mantle interface.

Seismic waves reveal abrupt changes in rock properties where one layer ends and another begins, shown by a noticeable jump in wave speeds. The boundary between the crust and the mantle is called the Mohorovicic discontinuity, or the Moho. It marks a change from crustal rocks to mantle rocks, and wave speeds increase once you cross into the mantle due to higher density and different mineral composition. Depths vary: roughly about 30 km beneath continents and about 7–10 km beneath oceans, with larger variations in different regions.

Other terms refer to different boundaries: the Gutenberg discontinuity is the boundary between the mantle and outer core; the Lehmann boundary is between the outer and inner core; and the boundary commonly associated with the upper mantle and lithosphere (often called the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary) is not the crust–mantle interface.