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Earth's tectonic plates are currently drifting on the semi-fluid asthenosphere, which is part of the upper mantle beneath the crust. This layer is composed of partially molten rock that allows the rigid plates to move slowly due to convection currents caused by heat from the Earth's interior. The movement of these plates is driven by various geological processes, including mantle convection, slab pull, and ridge push. This drifting leads to various geological phenomena, such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges.

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Which process is currently accepted explanation of the movement of drifting continents?

the convection currents in the mantle under the earths curst is moving the broken plates in earths lithosphere causing the plates slide across the lithosphere. this process is called tectonics. (jon lay wrote this,)


What drives the process of plates tectonics the currently accepted explanation for the movement of drifting continents?

Unequal heat distribution.


Do earths magnetic poles stay where they are?

No, they move slowly. The North Magnetic Pole, for example, is currently drifting a little west of north at about 40 km/year.


What are Earth and plates currently drifting on?

Earth is currently drifting on a layer of molten rock known as the asthenosphere, which is part of the upper mantle beneath the rigid lithosphere. The lithosphere is divided into several tectonic plates that float on this semi-fluid layer. These tectonic plates move due to convection currents in the mantle, driven by heat from the Earth's core. This movement causes various geological phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges.


How do scientists think earths crust moves?

The crustal plates (made mostly of low density granitic rock) float on the mantle (made mostly of high density basaltic rock). Convection cells in the mantle move the floating crustal plates around.


What plates are in earths structure?

Techtonic plates


Which rigid zone on the earth' surface form drifting tectonic plates?

The rigid lithosphere is the zone on Earth's surface that forms drifting tectonic plates. These plates float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere below and interact with each other at plate boundaries, leading to various geological phenomena such as earthquakes and mountain formation.


What is the Earth's plates are presently drifting on?

The Earth's plates are presently drifting on the semi-fluid asthenosphere layer of the mantle. This movement is driven by the heat generated from the Earth's core and the process known as mantle convection.


What forces below earth surface shape landforms?

The tectonic plates below earths surface shape earths landforms


What Forces drive the drifting of the continent?

The main force driving the drifting of continents is plate tectonics. This is caused by the movement of the Earth's lithosphere plates over the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath them. The plates can converge, diverge, or slide past each other, leading to the drifting of continents over long periods of time.


What are plates that are part of the earths outer layer called?

Tectonic Plates.


How many major plates compose earths surface?

there are 8 plates