The purpose of this chapter is to provide a summary of geophysical data on the
structure of the stable continental lithosphere and its evolution since the
Archean. Here, the term lithosphere is used to define the outer layer of the Earth
which includes the crust and uppermost mantle, forms the roots of the continents,
and moves together with continental plates. Depending on geophysical
techniques (and physical properties measured), the lithosphere has different
practical definitions. Most of them (i.e., seismic, electrical) are on the basis of a
sharp change in temperature-dependent physical properties at the transition
from conductive to convecting mantle.