Te is largely dependent on the thermal structure of the lithosphere,[4] its thickness and the coupling of crust with mantle.
[5] For the continental lithosphere more aspects are taken under consideration, thermal age is only the estimate for slowly cooling cratonic areas, where mantle is involved and Te reaches large values.
Topography load is also important factor, significantly lowering the value of Te.
Methods for Te determination on continents are mostly based on thermal and rheological approach, but also on comparison of gravity anomalies and topography.
Determination of the effective elastic thickness is important for Earth's surface deformation studies, warp tectonics, glacial isostatic rebound and sea-level changes.