What is the upper part of the mantle?

The lithosphere includes both the crust and the brittle upper portion of the mantle. The lithosphere is both the coolest and the most rigid of Earth's layers.

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What is the definition of the word upper mantle?

1. upper mantle - the upper part of the mantle. layer - a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under another. mantle - the layer of the earth between the crust and the core. What is the upper and lower mantle? The upper mantle is liquid rock, and very hot. The upper mantle actually moves large areas of crust, called tectonic plates, very slowly. When tectonic plates move, they can form volcanoes, mountains, or earthquakes. Below the crust is the lower mantle, and below the lower mantle is the core.

People also ask why is the upper mantle called?

The upper mantle is called asthenosphere, "astheno" is a Greek word meaning 'weak'. It is called weak layer because it is in liquid state where rock material deforms more readily, and magma formation takes place. Why is the upper mantle liquid? Magma is created when pressure changes melt the rock. For instance, as two tectonic plates collide, one plate may get forced under the other plate. As it does so, the plate that is forced down (subducted) releases water into the upper mantle which lowers the pressure enough to melt the rock.

And another question, what is the upper layer of the earth?

crust The crust is the uppermost layer of the planet. People also ask why is the upper mantle called the asthenosphere? Answer: The asthenosphere is known to be for its weak layer in the upper mantle. The asthenosphere is made of solid rock, when given heat and pressure, the rocks flow like a liquid. The name asthenosphere is taken from Greek which means weak sphere.