What is the Difference Between Lithosphere and Asthenosphere?

The lithosphere and asthenosphere are both mechanical layers of the Earth, but they have distinct differences in their composition and properties:

• Lithosphere:
• Composed of the crust and the top of the mantle.
• Brittle and rigid, with a thickness of about 100 kilometers.
• Broken into tectonic plates that move due to convection currents within the asthenosphere.
• Experiences earthquakes when stresses act upon it.
• Asthenosphere:
• Lies beneath the lithosphere and is composed of the upper, weaker part of the mantle.
• Solid but can flow, like toothpaste, due to its soft, solid rock.
• Made up of ultramafic composition, which can flow if it were hot enough.
• Acts as a "lubricant" for the tectonic plates to slide over.

In summary, the lithosphere is the rigid, brittle outer layer of the Earth, while the asthenosphere is a weaker, more flexible layer beneath the lithosphere that allows the tectonic plates to move.

Comparative Table: Lithosphere vs Asthenosphere

The lithosphere and asthenosphere are both parts of the Earth's upper mantle, but they have different properties and characteristics. Here is a comparison between the two:

The lithosphere is the Earth's hard and rigid shell that encompasses the outermost rocky shell, while the asthenosphere is a softer, more malleable layer that allows for the dynamic movement of the tectonic plates. The lithosphere is composed of the crust and the top of the mantle, while the asthenosphere is the layer within the mantle below the lithosphere. The asthenosphere is made up of soft, solid rock similar to silly putty, and the rock is soft enough to flow, but it only moves about as fast as your fingernails grow.