what drives the lithospheric plates
The lithospheric plates are driven by a process called plate tectonics. Plate tectonics is the scientific theory that describes the movement and interaction of the Earth's lithospheric plates. It explains how the Earth's surface is divided into several large and small plates that are constantly moving.
The driving force behind plate tectonics is primarily a combination of two factors:
1. Mantle Convection: The Earth's mantle, which lies beneath the lithosphere, is made up of solid rock that can flow over long periods of time. This slow-flowing movement is known as mantle convection. The mantle convection is driven by the transfer of heat from the Earth's core to the surface. As hot material rises and cooler material sinks, it sets up a circular motion in the mantle. The movement of the mantle convection currents exert forces on the overlying lithospheric plates, driving their motion.
2. Ridge Push and Slab Pull: In addition to mantle convection, two other processes contribute to the driving force of plate movement: ridge push and slab pull. Ridge push is the force created by the upward movement and subsequent gravitational pull of new oceanic crust at mid-oceanic ridges. As the new crust is formed at the ridge, it pushes against the older, denser crust and drives it away. Slab pull, on the other hand, occurs at subduction zones where one lithospheric plate is forced beneath another. The sinking plate pulls the rest of the plate along with it as it descends into the mantle.
Overall, the combination of mantle convection, ridge push, and slab pull collectively drive the movement of the lithospheric plates, resulting in various geological phenomena like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges.