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What makes the asthenosphere special?
The asthenosphere is ductile and deforms easily compared to the overlying lithosphere because of its temperature and pressure. Any rock will melt if its temperature is raised high enough. However, the melting point of any rock or mineral is also a function of the pressure exerted on the rock or mineral.
Is asthenosphere a liquid?
The asthenosphere is almost solid, although some of its regions are molten (e.g., below mid-ocean ridges).
How thick is the asthenosphere?
about 180 km thick
The asthenosphere is the ductile part of the earth just below the lithosphere, including the upper mantle. The asthenosphere is about 180 km thick.
Is asthenosphere solid or liquid?
Lithosphere: includes the crust and upper mantle. Is composed of a rigid solid. Asthenosphere: lower mantle, composed of “plastic solid” akin to playdoh. Outer core: liquid.
Is the asthenosphere hot or cold?
asthenosphere, zone of Earth’s mantle lying beneath the lithosphere and believed to be much hotter and more fluid than the lithosphere. The asthenosphere extends from about 100 km (60 miles) to about 700 km (450 miles) below Earth’s surface.
Is the asthenosphere hot?
The asthenosphere is solid upper mantle material that is so hot that it behaves plastically and can flow.
Where is asthenosphere found?
the mantle
Asthenosphere is found in the mantle at a depth of 100-250 km. It is found in the semi liquid state.
What elements are in the asthenosphere?
The elements in the asthenosphere are magnesium, silicon, iron and oxygen.
What is asthenosphere of the Earth?
The asthenosphere is the denser, weaker layer beneath the lithospheric mantle. It lies between about 100 kilometers (62 miles) and 410 kilometers (255 miles) beneath Earth’s surface. The temperature and pressure of the asthenosphere are so high that rocks soften and partly melt, becoming semi-molten.
What’s the asthenosphere made of?
semi-plastic rock
The Asthenosphere is made up of semi-plastic rock. Since the Lithosphere has a lower density, it floats on top of the Asthenosphere similar to the way in which an iceberg or a block of wood floats on water. The lower mantle below the Asthenosphere is more rigid and less plastic. Below the Mantle is the outer core.
Is the asthenosphere hard or soft?
The asthenosphere is a “soft” layer beneath the hard lithosphere, and, as the name suggests, it is weak.