noun The upper layer of the earth's mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur.
The aesthenosphere is a layer of the Earth's mantle beneath the lithosphere, where rocks are soft and partially molten, allowing tectonic plates to move.
The aesthenosphere is closely related to volcanic activity, as magma from the mantle can rise through this layer to the surface, leading to volcanic eruptions.
Geophysicists study the properties of the aesthenosphere to understand the dynamics of the Earth's interior and how seismic waves travel through different layers.
In the study of plate tectonics, the aesthenosphere plays a crucial role in the movement of continents and the formation of geological features.
The term 'asthenosphere' may be used by writers who specialize in geology or earth sciences when discussing the semi-fluid layer beneath the lithosphere.
Geologists often refer to the asthenosphere when studying the movement of tectonic plates and the behavior of magma beneath the Earth's surface.
Seismologists study the asthenosphere to understand how seismic waves travel through the Earth's interior and to predict earthquakes.