answersLogoWhite

0

Plate tectonics theory, which starts with the radioactive decay heating in the core and mantle of the earth, which drives convection currents in the mantle, the crust of the earth which is broken up into plates floats on the mantle and is pushed around by the convection currents. The end results are the plates grinding against each other and/or breaking (causing earthquakes) and also ocean plates subducting under continental plates then melting (causing volcanic arcs, e.g. The Pacific Ring of Fire) and mantle plumes penetrating through the crust (causing hotspot volcanoes, e.g. Hawaii, Yellowstone, Iceland)

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

What else can I help you with?