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Crustal rock is heated inside the mantle during divergent boundaries where new crust is generated as the plates pull away from each other. In mid-ocean, this movement results in seafloor spreading and the formation of ocean ridges; on continents, crustal spreading can form rift valleys.
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∙ 10y ago
Crustal rock is heated inside the mantle primarily through conduction and convection. As the mantle undergoes convection currents, these transfer heat to the surrounding crustal rocks. This heat transfer gradually increases the temperature of the crustal rock over time.
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How are convection currents caused and how do they move material in the mantle and lithosphere?
Convection currents in the mantle are caused by the heat generated from the Earth's core, which heats up the rock in the lower mantle. As the heated rock rises, it cools and then sinks back down in a continuous circular motion. This movement of material in the mantle and lithosphere helps drive plate tectonics by transferring heat and moving the Earth's crustal plates.
What is the behavior of the crustal plates in relation to the asthenosphere?
The crustal plates move on the semi-fluid asthenosphere due to convection currents in the mantle. These convection currents cause the plates to either separate, collide, or slide past each other, leading to various geological phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain formation.
Magma forms when rocks begin to melt?
Yes. Magma is underground molten rock.
Why movement of crustal plates depend on heat?
The movement of crustal plates is driven by the flow of semi-molten rock in the mantle caused by heat from Earth's core. This process, known as mantle convection, creates thermal gradients that move the plates above. Heat is the primary energy source driving the tectonic plate movements that lead to phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
How does magma form at convergent and divergent boundaries?
At divergent boundaries, two plates move apart from each other and the space that this creates is filled with new crustal material sourced from molten magma that forms below.
What has less density--the crustal rocks or the mantle rocks?
The crustal rocks have less density than the mantle rocks. The continental crust is less dense than the oceanic crust, which is in turn less dense than the mantle beneath.
Can the rocks in the crust move around more easily than the rocks in the lower mantle?
No, crustal rock is cold, hard, and brittle while mantle rock is hot, soft, and plastic. Crustal rock fractures under stress while mantle rock deforms and slowly flows under stress.
What are tectonic plates referring to?
The plates of crustal rock floating on the mantle rockand being moved by the flow of mantle rock in convection cells driven by the heating of radioactive decay deep in the core and lower mantle.
How are convection currents caused and how do they move material in the mantle and lithosphere?
Convection currents in the mantle are caused by the heat generated from the Earth's core, which heats up the rock in the lower mantle. As the heated rock rises, it cools and then sinks back down in a continuous circular motion. This movement of material in the mantle and lithosphere helps drive plate tectonics by transferring heat and moving the Earth's crustal plates.
Where is a place where currents of heated mantle rock move towords earths surface?
Convection zones in areas of crustal formation like the mid-ocean ridges, or 'hot spots' like the one that created the Hawaiian Island chain.
How is the earth's mantle like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?
In the mantle,we have two layers of solid rock with heated flowing rock between them.
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.
Where would mantle rock be the densest?
The mantle rock would be densest where it is closest to the Earth's core, which is at the boundary between the mantle and the outer core. This is due to the high pressure and temperature conditions at this depth.
What is the behavior of the crustal plates in relation to the asthenosphere?
The crustal plates move on the semi-fluid asthenosphere due to convection currents in the mantle. These convection currents cause the plates to either separate, collide, or slide past each other, leading to various geological phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain formation.
Where would mantle rock be densest?
At the bottom of a graphic organizer that show relationship among heat, movement, and density in mantle rock. Also when it sinks the mantle rock starts to be heated up once again.
Where would mantle be the densest?
At the bottom of a graphic organizer that show relationship among heat, movement, and density in mantle rock. Also when it sinks the mantle rock starts to be heated up once again.
On what layer do the crustal plates float?
Crustal plates float on the asthenosphere, which is a semi-fluid layer of the Earth's mantle just below the lithosphere. The movement of these plates is driven by the convection currents in the asthenosphere.
