The lithosphere's thickness ranges from approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) to about 280 kilometers (170 miles).
This range in thickness is primarily due to the difference between oceanic and continental lithosphere. The continental lithosphere is significantly thicker than the oceanic lithosphere. Here's a breakdown:
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Continental Lithosphere: This portion of the lithosphere, underlying the continents, is thicker, ranging from approximately 40 km to 280 km (25 to 170 miles). The uppermost part, roughly 30 to 50 km (19 to 31 miles), typically constitutes the crust.
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Oceanic Lithosphere: This portion of the lithosphere under the oceans is typically thinner than continental lithosphere. While the provided reference does not explicitly define the range for Oceanic lithosphere, it's generally understood to be significantly thinner, often in the range of a few kilometers to around 100 kilometers, depending on its age and proximity to mid-ocean ridges.
Therefore, the stated range encapsulates the general thickness variation found across the Earth's lithosphere.
