Table of Contents
- 1 What is the plastic layer in which the lithosphere floats on?
- 2 What is the plastic layer of the upper mantle?
- 3 Is plastic flowing layer in the middle of mantle?
- 4 Why is plastic a good term to describe the upper mantle?
- 5 What is the boundary between the asthenosphere and the lithosphere?
- 6 Which is the most important feature of the lithosphere?
What is the plastic layer in which the lithosphere floats on?
the asthenosphere
Beneath it is a softer, hotter layer of solid rock called the asthenosphere. Because of the high temepratures the rock of the asthenosphere behaves in a plastic way. In effect, the lithosphere floats on the asthenosphere “carrying” the lithospheric plates that are constantly changing position.
What is the plastic layer of the upper mantle?
The relatively plastic layer of the upper mantle of the Earth on which the tectonic plates of the lithosphere move. The asthenosphere is approximately 200 km [124 miles] thick and, owing to its depth below the Earth’s surface, warm (~ 1,400 degC [2,640 degF]) but not molten.
What do you call to the plastic layer above the lithosphere?
The lithosphere is made of the brittle crust and uppermost mantle and lies on the plastic asthenosphere.
What is the result of the lithosphere floating on the upper mantle?
The very slow motion of lithospheric plates “floating” on the asthenosphere is the cause of plate tectonics, a process associated with continental drift, earthquakes, the formation of mountains, and volcanoes.
Is plastic flowing layer in the middle of mantle?
The lithosphere is broken into giant plates that fit around the globe like puzzle pieces. These puzzle pieces move a little bit each year as they slide on top of a somewhat fluid part of the mantle called the asthenosphere. All this moving rock can cause earthquakes.
Why is plastic a good term to describe the upper mantle?
When two plates slide past each other, the mantle below moves in a plastic manner, however the crust is brittle so the friction builds between the two plates, which stick together. Plastic is a good term to describe the upper mantle because it flows, unlike the brittle crust above.
What is the plastic like layer below the lithosphere called?
The plastic-like layer of the Earth’s upper mantle directly below the lithosphere is called the asthenosphere. Q: Plastic like layer below the Lithosphere is called what?
How are tectonic plates move through the lithosphere?
The movement of tectonic plates is made possible by thermal energy (heat) from the mantle part of the lithosphere. Thermal energy makes the rocks of the lithosphere more elastic.
What is the boundary between the asthenosphere and the lithosphere?
The asthenosphere is viscous, and the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) is the point where geologists and rheologists—scientists who study the flow of matter—mark the difference in ductility between the two layers of the upper mantle.
Which is the most important feature of the lithosphere?
The most well-known feature associated with Earth’s lithosphere is tectonic activity. Tectonic activity describes the interaction of the huge slabs of lithosphere called tectonic plates.