Passage V
Heat flow is the escape of Earth's interior heat through the lithosphere (crust and upper mantle combined). For a given thickness, high heat flow indicates a rapid temperature increase with depth. Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of oceanic and continental lithospheres.
Figure 2 shows heat flow, in watts per square meter (W/m2), for parts of the oceanic lithosphere and the average heat flows for both lithosphere types.
Figures adapted from Frank Press and Raymond Siever, Earth. ©1986 by W. H. Freeman and Co.
Figure 3 shows the average relationship between temperature and depth for both lithosphere types. The shaded areas are where lithosphere material would melt with and without water.
30. According to Figure 3, when comparing the properties of the continental lithosphere to those of the oceanic lithosphere, one would state that the continental lithosphere is:
Your Answer is
Correct Answer is H
Explanation
According to figure 3, it can be seen that when the vertical coordinate depth is the same, the horizontal coordinate of the continental lithosphere is smaller, that is, the temperature is lower, so choose H