At the Bottom of the Oceanic Plate.

The article discusses geophysics research by N. Schmerr and colleagues within the issue. The author presents a brief overview of the theory of plate tectonics which posits that horizontal plates below the Pacific Ocean are moving laterally at a rate of approximately 10 centimeters (cm) per year above a weak layer called the asthenosphere. He notes that scientists are puzzled by how the plates, which are as large as 10 thousand kilometers (km), can maintain their rigidity while causing earthquakes at their edges. Topics include the use of high-resolution seismic maps by Schmerr's team to observe the process of plate tectonics, the role of the asthenosphere, which is a viscous layer below the lithosphere, in plate movement, and a diagram illustrating plate tectonics in the ocean.