Convections currents in the earth’s mantle are thought to be the driving force of plate tectonics . Where the hot magma is brought near the surface by the convection currents a divergent boundary is created. The divergent boundaries form new oceans and widen existing oceans.
Why is the convection important?
This flow, called mantle convection, is an important method of heat transport within the Earth. Mantle convection is the driving mechanism for plate tectonics , which is the process ultimately responsible for producing earthquakes, mountain ranges, and volcanos on Earth.
What do convection currents do?
Convection currents transfer heat from one place to another by mass motion of a fluid such as water, air or molten rock . The heat transfer function of convection currents drives the earth’s ocean currents, atmospheric weather and geology.
What would happen if there were no convection currents?
On earth, this happens in air (which causes our weather), and in ocean currents. If for some reason convection stopped, air would not circulate, and weather would stop . Air wouldn’t flow over the waters, suck up moisture and then rain it out on land. Without this rain, all plants and crops would die.
What is the importance of convection current to the plate tectonics?
Convection currents drive the movement of Earth’s rigid tectonic plates in the planet’s fluid molten mantle . In places where convection currents rise up towards the crust’s surface, tectonic plates move away from each other in a process known as seafloor spreading (Fig. 7.21).
How does convection affect us?
Convection currents are part of what drives global circulation of the Earth’s atmosphere . ... Convection currents in the air and sea lead to weather. Magma in the Earth’s mantle moves in convection currents. The hot core heats the material above it, causing it to rise toward the crust, where it cools.
How does convection help us?
Cooling Your Body
Convection occurs when heat is carried away from your body via moving air . If the surrounding air is cooler than your skin, the air will absorb your heat and rise. As the warmed air rises around you, cooler air moves in to take its place and absorb more of your warmth.
What are three types of convection?
- Natural convection.
- Forced convection.
What causes convection cells?
In the field of fluid dynamics, a convection cell is the phenomenon that occurs when density differences exist within a body of liquid or gas . ... The colder, denser part of the fluid descends to settle below the warmer, less-dense fluid, and this causes the warmer fluid to rise.
Where do convection currents happen?
Convection currents in the Earth occur in the mantle . The core of the Earth is extremely hot, and material in the mantle close to the core is heated...
What would happen if there were no currents?
Oxygen in water
Oceanic currents help particles and plankton move around the ocean for other animals to feed on. ... The flow of the water circulates the oxygen to animals, if currents stop then many plants would begin to die , causing a lack of oxygen to the sea creatures.
What would happen to convection currents of the Earth cooled?
If the Earth’s interior cools down, then the production of convection currents and the transfer of heat would stop. This event will cause the mantle to sink down due to the pull of gravity .
Where do convection currents flow in Earth?
Convection currents in the Earth occur in the mantle .
How does convection affect the formation of mountains?
As tectonic plates slowly move away from each other, heat from the mantle’s convection currents makes the crust more plastic and less dense . The less-dense material rises, often forming a mountain or elevated area of the seafloor. ... This rock (basalt) becomes a new part of Earth’s crust.
How do convection currents make plates move?
The crust moves because of movements deep inside the earth. Heat rising and falling inside the mantle creates convection currents generated by radioactive decay in the core. The convection currents move the plates. Where convection currents diverge near the Earth’s crust, plates move apart.
Why do tectonic plates move?
The heat from radioactive processes within the planet’s interior causes the plates to move, sometimes toward and sometimes away from each other. This movement is called plate motion, or tectonic shift.
