Asthenosphere

Earth cutaway

The asthenosphere is a part of the Earth's mantle. It is the lower part of the upper mantle, and behaves as a hot viscous liquid, and is about 100 km to 350 km below the surface of the Earth.

The asthenosphere consists of hot, weak material in a state of matter with qualities which might seem similar to silly putty. That means it is capable of gradual flow.

The asthenosphere is under the lithosphere.

References

  1. ↑ "St. Diego State University Department of Geological Sciences". Archived from the original on 2011-03-03. Retrieved 2007-06-01.