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Heating from the Earth's core drives convection in the upper mantle. This convection is extremely slow; the speed with which material in the Earth's crust spreads from the mid-ocean ridges is of the order of several cm per year. Nevertheless, it is evident that the same forces which drive convection in the atmosphere and in the ocean are present in the "solid" earth as well. Mantle convection is the slow creeping motion of Earth's solid silicate mantle caused by convection currents carrying heat from the interior of the Earth to the surface. Mantle convection is the slow creeping motion of Earth's solid silicate mantle caused by convection currents carrying heat from the interior of the Earth to the surface.

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βˆ™ 9y ago
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βˆ™ 5mo ago

Mantle convection is mainly driven by heat generated within Earth's interior, which causes the mantle material to heat up, become less dense, and rise towards the surface. As the material cools and becomes denser, it sinks back down, completing a convection cycle. This movement of material is responsible for the transfer of heat within the Earth's interior.

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βˆ™ 12y ago

Good question, nobody's sure. Seismic tomography reveals that the mantle is heterogeneous in wave speed, which might mean there are changes in either melt content, temperature or composition - any one of which could drive mantle convection.

Another hypothesis is that subducted lithosphere sinks all the way to the Mantle-Core boundary, in which event large-scale convection is an isostatic necessity.

One more theory I'll mention, is that heat escaping into the mantle from the outer core causes convection in the lower mantle, which in turn drives convection in the upper mantle. The key difference here is that the upper and lower mantle do not mix, and lithospheric recycling is primarily at 'shallow' depths.

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βˆ™ 10y ago

Mantle convection is the slow motion of the Earth's silicate mantle, caused by convection currents that carry heat from the interior to the surface of the Earth. Mantle convection causes the tectonic plates to move around the Earth's surface, causing earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity.

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βˆ™ 14y ago

The convection slowly rotates the hotter parts of the mantle closer to the crust and the colder parts to the core and this is a continues cycle.

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βˆ™ 12y ago

because your mom

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Q: What causes mantle convection?
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Related questions

What do lithospheric plate movements have to do with convection?

there is convection in the mantle. it causes the plates to move.


What drives the process of plate teconics?

Mantle convection causes the tectonic plates of the Earth to move slowly. Mantle convection is when heat moves from the mantle to the surface and causes the mantle, and the tectonic plates to move very slowly.


Who is the scientist who first proposed the thermal convection in the mantle causes continental drift?

Auther Holmes is the Scientist who first proposed that theral convection in the mantle causes continental drift.


What is the name of the process that causes mantle movement?

The process that causes mantle movement is called mantle convection. This occurs when heat from the Earth's core causes the mantle material to heat up and rise towards the surface, then cool and sink back down in a continuous cycle.


What is primary causes of crustal movement?

Convection currents in the mantle.


What does the mantle convection cause?

Mantle convection is the slow motion of the Earth's silicate mantle, caused by convection currents that carry heat from the interior to the surface of the Earth. Mantle convection causes the tectonic plates to move around the Earth's surface, causing earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity.


What do scientists think causes the movement of Earthes plates?

Convection movements; currents in Earth's interior. Note that a significant part of Earth's interior is liquid.


Why does convection occurs in the athenosphere?

heat from the outer core and the mantle when it drifts up to the asthenosphere it causes convection.


What do scientists think causes movements of the pates?

Convection currents in the mantle.


What causes earths plates to move continuously?

Convection in the earth's mantle.


Which layer of the earth is the place where convection occurs?

Convection occurs in the mantle, which is the layer beneath the Earth's crust that is in a semi-molten state. This convection is responsible for the movement of the tectonic plates due to the heat generated by the core.


Which layers of the earth does convection occur?

Convection occurs mainly in the mantle, which is the layer beneath the Earth's crust. The heat generated by the core causes convection currents in the mantle, leading to the movement of tectonic plates.