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Heating from the Earth's core drives convection in the upper mantle. This convection is extremely slow; the speed with which material in the Earth's crust spreads from the mid-ocean ridges is of the order of several cm per year. Nevertheless, it is evident that the same forces which drive convection in the atmosphere and in the ocean are present in the "solid" earth as well. Mantle convection is the slow creeping motion of Earth's solid silicate mantle caused by convection currents carrying heat from the interior of the Earth to the surface. Mantle convection is the slow creeping motion of Earth's solid silicate mantle caused by convection currents carrying heat from the interior of the Earth to the surface.
Wiki User
∙ 8y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoGood question, nobody's sure. Seismic tomography reveals that the mantle is heterogeneous in wave speed, which might mean there are changes in either melt content, temperature or composition - any one of which could drive mantle convection.
Another hypothesis is that subducted lithosphere sinks all the way to the Mantle-Core boundary, in which event large-scale convection is an isostatic necessity.
One more theory I'll mention, is that heat escaping into the mantle from the outer core causes convection in the lower mantle, which in turn drives convection in the upper mantle. The key difference here is that the upper and lower mantle do not mix, and lithospheric recycling is primarily at 'shallow' depths.
Wiki User
∙ 9y agoMantle convection is the slow motion of the Earth's silicate mantle, caused by convection currents that carry heat from the interior to the surface of the Earth. Mantle convection causes the tectonic plates to move around the Earth's surface, causing earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThe convection slowly rotates the hotter parts of the mantle closer to the crust and the colder parts to the core and this is a continues cycle.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agobecause your mom
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Who is the scientist who first proposed that thermal convection in the mantle causes continental drift?
Auther Holmes is the Scientist who first proposed that theral convection in the mantle causes continental drift.
Which layer of the earth is the place where convection occurs?
Convection currents rese and sink through the mantle and the liquid outer core. In Earth's mantle, large amounts of heat are transferred by convection currents. Heat from the core and the mantle itself causes convection currents in the mantle.
What is the name of the process that causes mantle movement?
convection currents
How does convection current occur in the mantle?
radioactive decay takes place, which produces lot of heat and causes the mantle to flow in convection currents veena
Scientists think plates are moved by?
volcanos and earthquakes
What causes convection currents it the mantle?
Heat from the core and the mantle itself causes convection currents in earth's mantle.
What do lithospheric plate movements have to do with convection?
there is convection in the mantle. it causes the plates to move.
What drives the process of plate teconics?
Mantle convection causes the tectonic plates of the Earth to move slowly. Mantle convection is when heat moves from the mantle to the surface and causes the mantle, and the tectonic plates to move very slowly.
Who is the scientist who first proposed the thermal convection in the mantle causes continental drift?
Auther Holmes is the Scientist who first proposed that theral convection in the mantle causes continental drift.
Who is the scientist who first proposed that thermal convection in the mantle causes continental drift?
Auther Holmes is the Scientist who first proposed that theral convection in the mantle causes continental drift.
Which layer of the earth is the place where convection occurs?
Convection currents rese and sink through the mantle and the liquid outer core. In Earth's mantle, large amounts of heat are transferred by convection currents. Heat from the core and the mantle itself causes convection currents in the mantle.
What is the name of the process that causes mantle movement?
convection currents
What is primary causes of crustal movement?
Convection currents in the mantle.
What does the mantle convection cause?
Mantle convection is the slow motion of the Earth's silicate mantle, caused by convection currents that carry heat from the interior to the surface of the Earth. Mantle convection causes the tectonic plates to move around the Earth's surface, causing earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity.
How does convection current occur in the mantle?
radioactive decay takes place, which produces lot of heat and causes the mantle to flow in convection currents veena
What do scientists think causes the movement of Earthes plates?
Convection movements; currents in Earth's interior. Note that a significant part of Earth's interior is liquid.
How are the pushed together and pulled apart?
Both continental and oceanic plates float on the top surface of the mantle, which is divided into convection cells. The movement of these convection cells drag the plates along: where convection causes the mantle material to fall the plates are pushed together and where convection causes the mantle material to rise the plates are pulled apart.
