The thickness of oceanic lithosphere is
A) nearly uniformly 100 km.
B) greatest at the geographic poles and least near the equator.
C) greatest near the mid-ocean ridges and thins out away from the ridges.
D) least near the mid-ocean ridges and thickens away from the ridges.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The oceanic lithosphere is thinnest near the mid-ocean ridges, where new lithospheric material is being created, and it thickens as it ages and moves away from the ridges. This is due to the cooling and contracting of the lithospheric material over time.

The Thickness of Oceanic Lithosphere Is