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The continents of the Earth are sliding through the asthenosphere. This is the viscous part of the mantle on which the plates of the lithosphere sit.

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What layer are the continents and tectonic plates sliding on?

Continents and tectonic plates are sliding on the asthenosphere, which is a ductile layer of the Earth's mantle below the lithosphere. The asthenosphere allows for the movement of tectonic plates due to its semi-fluid properties.


How are continents and tectonic plates related?

The Earth's continents "ride" on its tectonic plates. The plates cover the whole surface of the Earth so that they are underneath both the oceans and the continents. Every plate moves alongside its neighbouring plates, either by sliding underneath or by slipping sideways, so a good way to think of the Earth's tectonic plates is to realize that they they all fit together like a huge jigsaw puzzle in which all the pieces are continually sliding against or under one another.


What layer are the continents sliding on?

The continents are sliding on the asthenosphere, which is a partially molten layer beneath the Earth's lithosphere. This movement is due to the slow convection currents in the asthenosphere causing the tectonic plates to move over time.


How do the tectonic plates moved the continents?

The continents are part of Earth's tectonic plate system, when the plates move the continents move with them. The plate movement is driven by slow mantle convection driven by the heat in Earth's core.


What made continents move?

The continents moved because of the tectonic plates of earth that they rest on.


Are continents and plates not the same?

No, continents and plates are not the same. Continents are large land masses that form the Earth's surface, while tectonic plates are pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other, causing geological phenomena like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Continents are located on top of tectonic plates and can be made up of one or more plates.


What do you call overlapping portions of two continents?

Overlapping portions of two continents are known as continental plates or tectonic plates. These plates can collide, separate, or slide past each other due to the movement of the Earth's tectonic plates.


Why does the shape of the Earth's ocean and continents continue to change?

They move because of the tectonic plates of the Earth.


What are underground plates called?

Underground plates are called tectonic plates. These plates are large pieces of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other, causing phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.


Why do we have continents?

Continents exist due to the movement of tectonic plates on Earth's surface. These plates constantly shift and collide, leading to the formation of continents over millions of years. The Earth's crust is divided into several large and small land masses, which we refer to as continents.


How do tectonic plates affect the earth?

If plates move enough continents will lose more land under the water and people will have to move


What region of the earth contains tectonic plates?

Tectonic plates are found all over the Earth's surface, but they are most prominent along the boundaries of continents and oceans. These boundaries form the edges of the plates where they interact, leading to geological events like earthquakes and volcanic activity.