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What is the ocean of molten rock on which the continents float called?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
There is no ocean of molten rock underneath the continents. Tectonic plates, both oceanic and continental, move on top of the ductile asthenosphere.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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Why do the continents and ocean floors move?
Although it seems impossible, the continents and sea floor form a series of plates that float on the Earth's mantle. The mantle is heated form below (the core of the Earth is molten) and this causes the mantle to convect (like a boiling pan of thick soup). The convention happens only very slowly but as it does it moves the surface plates about. The plates move at about the speed your fingernails grow.
What are the large landmasses in the ocean called?
Large land areas are called continents.
What erupts through the valley of the mid ocean rig?
Magma erupts along mid ocean ridges forming new ocean floor. Mid ocean ridges are found at divergent boundaries where two ocean plates are pushing apart.
What continents can the ocean ecosystem be found?
Oceans are not found on continents.
What is a continental shift?
Continental drift is the idea that Wegener created, that all the continents were once a single landmass which he called Pangaea, and they have since drifted apart.
Why do continents float high relative to the ocean basin?
The continents are thicker and less dense than the materials that make up the ocean basins.
Do continents reach the bottom of the ocean?
They do touch the ocean floor. they're like a giant mound, and the beaches flow into the water.
Why do the continents and ocean floors move?
Although it seems impossible, the continents and sea floor form a series of plates that float on the Earth's mantle. The mantle is heated form below (the core of the Earth is molten) and this causes the mantle to convect (like a boiling pan of thick soup). The convention happens only very slowly but as it does it moves the surface plates about. The plates move at about the speed your fingernails grow.
What are the large landmasses in the ocean called?
Large land areas are called continents.
What do you call a large area between continents underwater?
A large area between continents underwater is called a ocean basin or a mid-ocean ridge. Ocean basins are vast regions of the seafloor that separate different continents, while mid-ocean ridges are underwater mountain ranges that can extend for thousands of kilometers between continents.
What plants drift and float in top layer of the ocean?
the top layer of the ocean is called the Epipelagic
The continents and the ocean basin make up a part of the earth called the ...............?
The Hydrosphere
What are the continents not touched by the Pacific Ocean?
The continents that do not have Pacific Ocean coasts are Europe and Africa.
Which ocean is north of all 7 continents?
The ocean that is North of all 7 Continents is the Arctic Ocean.
What is the scooter for the ocean?
The scooter of the ocean is something called a jet-ski, you know, those motor objects that float on the water?
Continents and the ocean floor are part of earths solid rocky surface called?
crust
What erupts through the valley of the mid ocean rig?
Magma erupts along mid ocean ridges forming new ocean floor. Mid ocean ridges are found at divergent boundaries where two ocean plates are pushing apart.
