The asthenosphere plays a fundamental role in present-day plate tectonics as its low
viscosity controls how convection in the mantle below it is expressed at the Earth's surface …

The low-velocity zone (LVZ) is a persistent seismic feature in a broad range of geological
contexts. It coincides in depth with the asthenosphere, a mantle region of lowered viscosity …

Recent studies have imaged sharp vertical drops in shear wave velocity at the lithosphere‐
asthenosphere boundary (LAB). In some regions, the magnitude of the negative velocity …

In plate tectonic theory a weak asthenosphere is required to facilitate the motions of the rigid
plates. Partial melt could weaken the mantle, in turn impacting convection, but to date the …

The concept of a weak asthenospheric layer underlying Earth's mobile tectonic plates is
fundamental to our understanding of mantle convection and plate tectonics. However, little is …

The coupling/decoupling between the lithosphere and asthenosphere has significant
implications for understanding many important aspects of plate tectonics and geodynamics …

The seismic low-velocity zone (LVZ) of the upper mantle is generally associated with a low-
viscosity asthenosphere that has a key role in decoupling tectonic plates from the mantle …

Seismic shear waves that are polarized horizontally (SH) generally travel faster in the upper
mantle than those that are polarized vertically (SV), and deformation of rocks under …

Most of Earth's volcanism occurs at plate boundaries, in association with subduction or
rifting. A few high-volume volcanic fields are observed both at plate boundaries and within …

Viscous shear in the asthenosphere accommodates relative motion between Earth's surface
plates and underlying mantle, generating lattice‐preferred orientation (LPO) in olivine …