What is the difference between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere? In which layer is each located?
The lithosphere and the asthenosphere are two distinct layers in the Earth's structure.
The lithosphere is the rigid outermost layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and a portion of the upper mantle. It is relatively cool and is broken into several large and small tectonic plates. The lithosphere is divided into two main types: the oceanic lithosphere, which makes up the ocean floors, and the continental lithosphere, which underlies the continents.
The asthenosphere, on the other hand, is a partially molten and ductile layer located beneath the lithosphere. It is composed of the uppermost region of the mantle. The asthenosphere is characterized by its higher temperature and a small amount of melt, which makes it more plastic and capable of slow, flowing movement. This layer helps facilitate the movement of the tectonic plates.
To remember their locations, you can think of the lithosphere as being "litho" or "rock-like," while the asthenosphere is more "plastic" or "flowing" in nature. The lithosphere is positioned above the asthenosphere, as it forms the rigid shell on top of it.