what is the best explanation for why earth's lithospheric plates move?
A. The solid iron core asthenosphere.
B. The convection currents within the asthenosphere.
C. The solid iron lithosphere.
D. The convection currents within the lithosphere
B. The convection currents within the asthenosphere.
The movement of Earth's lithospheric plates is primarily driven by convection currents within the asthenosphere. The asthenosphere is a partially molten layer of the Earth's mantle that lies beneath the lithosphere. Heat from the Earth's core and mantle causes convection currents to form within the asthenosphere.
The convection currents create a cycle of rising and sinking magma, which directly influences the movement of the lithospheric plates above. As the hot magma rises, it pushes the plates apart, leading to the creation of new crust at mid-ocean ridges. On the other hand, as the cooler magma sinks, it pulls the plates together, causing subduction zones and the destruction of old crust.
Therefore, the convection currents within the asthenosphere provide the best explanation for the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates.