What is the driving force for the movement of the lithospheric plates?
From Internet:
The heat from the mantle makes the rocks at the bottom of the lithosphere slightly elastic, which allows the plates to move. The movement of these plates is known as plate tectonics. Most tectonic activity takes place at the boundaries of these plates, where they may collide, tear apart, or slide against each other.
@PsyDAG no the answer idiot
The tilt of the earth causes a very strong centrifugal force on the asthenosphere magma as explained in my article : The driving forces of tectonics, freely availible.
The driving force behind the movement of lithospheric plates is known as plate tectonics. Plate tectonics is driven by the convection currents in the underlying asthenosphere, which is a semi-fluid layer in the Earth's mantle. Here's a step-by-step explanation of how to understand this phenomenon:
1. Start with the basic concept of plate tectonics: The Earth's lithosphere (consisting of several rigid plates) is separated into different pieces that continuously move. These plates can either collide, move apart, or slide past each other.
2. Understand the structure of the Earth: The Earth's interior consists of several layers, including the crust (made of solid rock), the mantle (composed of mostly solid rock but with some semi-fluidity), and the core (made of liquid and solid metals). The lithosphere, which makes up the plates, is the rigid outermost layer of the Earth.
3. Know about the asthenosphere: Below the lithosphere, there is a layer called the asthenosphere. It is a partially molten and ductile region of the mantle, where the rocks have a higher temperature and can deform slowly over long periods.
4. Explore convection currents: The asthenosphere is not uniformly heated. Some regions receive heat from the core, while others lose heat at the surface. This temperature difference creates convection currents. Hotter, less dense material rises upwards, while cooler, denser material sinks down.
5. Understand how convection currents drive plate movement: The convection currents in the asthenosphere cause the lithospheric plates to move. As the hotter material rises, it pushes against the bottom of the lithosphere, creating an upward force. This force pushes the plates apart where they diverge (like at mid-oceanic ridges), while in other regions, it can cause plates to collide or slide past each other.
6. Recognize the various plate boundaries: The movement of lithospheric plates at different boundaries gives rise to various geological phenomena. Convergent boundaries occur when plates collide, leading to the formation of mountain ranges or volcanic activity. Divergent boundaries occur where plates move apart, resulting in the formation of new crust through seafloor spreading or rift valleys. Transform boundaries occur when plates slide past each other horizontally, causing earthquakes.
By understanding these processes of plate tectonics and the role of convection currents, we can explain the driving force behind the movement of lithospheric plates.