Geography & Earth
Intermediate

Lithostatic Pressure

Pressure from the weight of overlying rock.

Formula

P=ρghP = \rho g h

Variables

\rhoRock density
gGravity
hDepth

Example

3 km of granite (2700 kg/m³) ⇒ ≈ 79 MPa

Did You Know?

At the base of the continental crust the pressure exceeds ten thousand times the atmosphere at sea level.

geologypressuredepth