The asthenosphere is the weak, hot, ductile layer of the upper mantle that lies below the lithosphere. Convection currents in the asthenosphere are driven by heat from the Earth's core and mantle, which causes the asthenosphere to slowly flow outward. Plate tectonics refers to the movement and interactions of the Earth's tectonic plates, which are driven by convection currents in the asthenosphere. Continental plates are less dense pieces of the Earth's crust that sit atop the asthenosphere and move slowly over time as the asthenosphere flows.
1. Asthenosphere and Plate Tectonics
Make a powerpoint presentation about
Asthenosphere. Use lead questions below to
guide you in making your presentation.
1. What is Asthenosphere?
2. What drives the convection current in the
asthenosphere?
3. What is plate tectonics?
4. What is a continental plate?
5. How does convection current in the asthenosphere
drive the movement of continental plates?
Show pictures/diagrams to help explain your
point.
