Rheological structure
The Earth's mantle is divided into two major rheological layers: the rigid lithosphere comprising the uppermost mantle, and the more viscous asthenosphere, separated by the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary. Lithosphere underlying ocean crust has a thickness of around 100 km, whereas lithosphere underlying continental crust generally has a thickness of 150-200 km. The lithosphere and overlying crust make up tectonic plates, which move over the asthenosphere.
