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Scientists have discovered a new layer of partly molten rock under the Earth's crust.
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This discovery could help resolve a long-standing debate on how tectonic plates move.
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The molten layer is located about 100 miles from the surface and is part of the asthenosphere.
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The asthenosphere forms a soft boundary that allows tectonic plates to move through the mantle.
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The reasons for the softness of the asthenosphere are not well understood.
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The study found that melt does not appear to have a significant influence on the flow of mantle rocks.
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The convection of heat and rock in the mantle is the main influence on the motion of plates.
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The study provides one less variable for computer models of the Earth.
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The idea to search for a new layer in the Earth's interior came from seismic images of the mantle beneath Turkey.
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The study found no correlation between the partly molten layer and tectonic movement despite the layer encompassing almost half the Earth.