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asthenosphere

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.09 sec.
as·then·o·sphere  (s-thn-sfîr)
n.
A zone of the earth's mantle that lies beneath the lithosphere and consists of several hundred kilometers of deformable rock.
[Greek asthens, weak; see asthenia + sphere.]
asthenosphere  (s-thn-sfîr)
The upper part of the Earth's mantle, extending from a depth of about 75 km (46.5 mi) to about 200 km (124 mi). The asthenosphere lies beneath the lithosphere and consists of partially molten rock. Seismic waves passing through this layer are significantly slowed. Isostatic adjustments (the depression or uplift of continents by buoyancy) take place in the asthenosphere, and magma is believed to be generated there. Compare atmospherehydrospherelithosphere
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.asthenosphere - the lower layer of the crust
layer - a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under another
crust, Earth's crust - the outer layer of the Earth
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Thin crust and high surface topography are dynamically supported by shallow asthenosphere.
PanLITHOPROBE workshop IV: IntraOrogen correlations and comparative ... by van Staal, C. / Geoscience Canada
That suggestion, however, runs counter to the prevailing view among geophysicists, who believe that a deformable layer called the asthenosphere separates the surface plates from deep mantle flow.
Raising the Andes: the view beneath South America shows some surprises by Monastersky, Richard / Science News
The asthenosphere supports the more buoyant and rigid lithospheric plates that drift across Earth's surface.
Deep rocks offer a glimpse into mantle by Monastersky, Richard / Science News
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