Lithosphere and Asthenosphere

The Lithosphere is the outermost mechanical layer of the Earth. It is a hard, rigid shell that includes the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.

Even though it is solid, the lithosphere is brittle, meaning it can crack under pressure. When this happens, we experience earthquakes.

This layer is made up of Earth's tectonic plates, puzzle-like pieces forming the planet's surface.

Beneath the lithosphere is the asthenosphere, a solid part of the upper mantle.

The asthenosphere is made of solid rock, but because it is so hot, over long periods, it behaves like a soft, flowing material.

The intense heat within Earth generates convection currents, where hotter, less dense material rises while cooler, denser material sinks.

This movement reduces the rock's rigidity and enables its flow. These Convection currents enable tectonic plates to move as the lithosphere rides on the asthenosphere.

When the plates shift, various things happen on Earth, like mountains rising, volcanoes erupting, and oceans forming or changing over millions of years.

The hot asthenosphere layer continuously reshapes our planet.