Asked by diddy
describe 2 differences between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere
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1) Mechanical behavior: The lithosphere is cold and strong — it behaves rigidly and breaks elastically (this is the layer that forms tectonic plates). The asthenosphere is hotter and mechanically weak/ductile (partially molten in places) and flows slowly, allowing the lithospheric plates to move.
2) Depth, composition and seismic properties: The lithosphere includes the crust plus the very uppermost mantle (thickness ≈ a few km under oceans to ~100–200 km under old continents). The asthenosphere lies below it in the upper mantle (roughly from ~100 km down to a few hundred km) and shows lower seismic wave velocities (the low-velocity zone) because of higher temperature and partial melt.
2) Depth, composition and seismic properties: The lithosphere includes the crust plus the very uppermost mantle (thickness ≈ a few km under oceans to ~100–200 km under old continents). The asthenosphere lies below it in the upper mantle (roughly from ~100 km down to a few hundred km) and shows lower seismic wave velocities (the low-velocity zone) because of higher temperature and partial melt.
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