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Radioactive decay of long-lived isotopes in the Earth's deep interior is the source of heat which causes convection currents in the magma which causes tectonic plates to move.

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What part of Earths interior is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move?

The mantle is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move. Heat from within the Earth creates these currents, leading to the movement of the rigid plates on the Earth's surface.


Which part of earth's interior is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move?

The mantle is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move. Heat from the Earth's core causes these currents, which transfer heat to the surface and drive the movement of the tectonic plates.


What layer of the earth has convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move?

The asthenosphere, which is a partially molten layer in the upper mantle, has convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move due to the heat-driven circulation of rock material. These convection currents are responsible for the continuous motion of tectonic plates on the Earth's surface.


Do convection currents in the oceans cause tectonic plates to move?

No, convection currents in the mantle are the primary driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates. These currents are generated by heat from the Earth's core, causing movement in the mantle that in turn drags and moves the overlying tectonic plates.


What do geologists think cause the earth's plates to move?

Geologists believe that the movement of the Earth's plates is caused by the heat from the Earth's core creating convection currents in the mantle. These currents cause the plates to slowly drift and move over time, a process known as plate tectonics.

Related Questions

What describes a cause of lithospheric plate movement across the surface of earth?

the plates are driven across the surface by convection currents within the plastic rock of the asthenosphere.


What part of Earths interior is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move?

The mantle is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move. Heat from within the Earth creates these currents, leading to the movement of the rigid plates on the Earth's surface.


Which part of earth's interior is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move?

The mantle is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move. Heat from the Earth's core causes these currents, which transfer heat to the surface and drive the movement of the tectonic plates.


What part of the earths interior is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plated to move?

It is the mantle that is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move. Heat from the Earth's core creates these currents, which drive the movement of the rigid plates on the Earth's surface.


What layer of the earth has convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move?

The asthenosphere, which is a partially molten layer in the upper mantle, has convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move due to the heat-driven circulation of rock material. These convection currents are responsible for the continuous motion of tectonic plates on the Earth's surface.


What are tectonic plates driven by?

Tectonic plates are driven by the movement of material in the Earth's mantle. This movement is caused by heat from the Earth's core, which creates convection currents within the mantle. As the currents rise and cool, they push the tectonic plates apart, causing them to move across the Earth's surface.


Do convection currents in the oceans cause tectonic plates to move?

No, convection currents in the mantle are the primary driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates. These currents are generated by heat from the Earth's core, causing movement in the mantle that in turn drags and moves the overlying tectonic plates.


What do geologists think cause the earth's plates to move?

Geologists believe that the movement of the Earth's plates is caused by the heat from the Earth's core creating convection currents in the mantle. These currents cause the plates to slowly drift and move over time, a process known as plate tectonics.


What process drives the lithospheric plates across the surface of earth?

The process that drives the movement of lithospheric plates across the surface of the Earth is called plate tectonics. This movement is mainly driven by the heat generated from radioactive decay in the Earth's interior, which creates convection currents in the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath the lithosphere. These convection currents cause the lithospheric plates to move, leading to phenomena like seafloor spreading, subduction, and continental drift.


What causes the movement of plates?

The movement of tectonic plates is primarily caused by convection currents in the Earth's mantle. Heat from the Earth's core creates these currents, which cause the plates to slowly move and interact with each other. This movement leads to various geological phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.


Why can lithosphere plates drift or move?

convection currents cause movement in the asthenosphere


What cause the motion of the plates?

Radioactive decay within the deep interior of the Earth causes convection currents in the magma of the mantle. The continental plates float on top of the mantle, and the currents push them. That is why continents drift.