What does the lithosphere consist of? Only the Earth's crust. The atmosphere and hydrosphere combined. The Earth's crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. The entire mantle and core of the Earth

** The Earth's crust and the uppermost part of the mantle

**The lithosphere is the rigid outer layer of the Earth. It includes two main components:1. **The Earth's Crust:** This is the outermost layer of the Earth, which we live on. It varies in thickness, being thinner under the oceans and thicker under the continents.2. **The Uppermost Part of the Mantle:** Beneath the crust lies the uppermost part of the mantle, which is also solid and forms part of the lithosphere. This region is involved in tectonic activities such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.The lithosphere does not include the entire mantle or core, as these layers are in a different state (mostly molten) and behave differently compared to the solid lithosphere.It is also distinct from the atmosphere (the layer of gases surrounding the Earth) and the hydrosphere (all the water on Earth's surface).**