Deep within the earth, the process of mantle ___ drives plate tectonics.
A) Condensation
B) Subduction
C) Currents
D) Convection
Its convect:)
The correct answer is D) Convection.
To arrive at this answer, we need to understand the processes that occur within the Earth's mantle and how they relate to plate tectonics.
Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that explains how the Earth's lithosphere is divided into several rigid plates that move and interact with each other. The driving force behind the movement of these plates is convection in the mantle.
Convection is the process where heat is transferred within a fluid, resulting in the movement of the fluid itself. In the Earth's mantle, convection occurs due to the heat generated by the radioactive decay of elements present in the mantle and the immense pressure from the overlying layers.
The mantle is mostly solid, but over geological timescales, it flows slowly like a very thick liquid due to the intense heat and pressure. As the mantle undergoes convection, hotter, less dense material rises towards the Earth's surface, while cooler, denser material sinks back down. This continuous cycle of rising and sinking of mantle material is known as mantle convection.
The movement of mantle material due to convection leads to the motion of the overlying lithospheric plates, which float on top of the semi-fluid mantle. As the hotter material rises, it pushes the plates apart, causing them to separate and diverge. This is observable in the formation of new oceanic crust at mid-oceanic ridges. On the other hand, when cooler, denser material sinks, it pulls the plates back together, resulting in areas of compression and subduction zones.
So, in conclusion, convection in the mantle is the process that drives plate tectonics.