What is the role of convection currents in plate tectonics?

Plate Tectonics Questions



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What is the role of convection currents in plate tectonics?

The role of convection currents in plate tectonics is to drive the movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates. These currents occur in the asthenosphere, which is a semi-fluid layer beneath the lithosphere. As heat from the Earth's core rises towards the surface, it creates convection currents in the asthenosphere. These currents cause the lithospheric plates to move, leading to various geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the formation of mountain ranges.