Four boundary layers (mechanical, rheological, thermal, and chemical) are closely related to the concept of the lithosphere and define the corresponding physical and chemical properties of the upper mantle. While the existing “lithosphere” and LAB definitions differ significantly, depending on the parameter in consideration, the definitions of the boundary layers are specific and allow for examining complex relationships between them. In particular, the thickness of the chemical boundary layer may control the thickness of other boundary layers and lithosphere evolution. It necessitates a joint analysis of the entire set of data provided by different techniques (such as seismic, gravity, thermal, electromagnetic, and petrological). The session invites multidisciplinary contributions from geophysics and mantle petrology that address lateral and vertical heterogeneity of the upper mantle structure on regional and global scales, and welcomes contributions based on numerical modeling of mantle convection and lithosphere-mantle interaction.

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Invited talks:
- Alan Levander (Rice Univ., Houston, TX)
- Stephan Sobolev (GFZ, Postdam)
- Eugene Burov (IPG, Paris)
- Lev Vinnik (IPE, Moscow)