Convection currents within the mantle provide one potential driving force for plate movement. The plastic movement of the mantle material moves like the flow of mountain glaciers, carrying the lithospheric plates along as the convection movement in the mantle moves the asthenosphere.

Convection currents are identified in Earth’s mantle. Heated mantle material is shown rising from deep inside the mantle, while cooler mantle material sinks, creating a convection current. It is thought that this type of current is responsible for the movements of the plates of Earth’s crust.

This flow, called mantle convection, is an important method of heat transport within the Earth. Mantle convection is the driving mechanism for plate tectonics, which is the process ultimately responsible for producing earthquakes, mountain ranges, and volcanos on Earth.

What force causes the convection cell to turn down at point C. The force of gravity causes the material to fall back towards the core at point C. The material becomes more dense at this point and gravity pulls it back down.

Convection Currents As the heated mantle transfers its heat energy to the lithosphere, it becomes more dense than the surrounding magma and sinks back down towards the core.

Three factors contribute to set convection currents in motion:

• heating and cooling of the fluid,
• changes in the fluid’s density, and.
• force of gravity.
• The heat source for these currents is heat from Earth’s core and from the mantle itself.
• Hot columns of mantle material rise slowly.

A student models convection currents in a laboratory activity. Convection cells in Earth’s atmosphere and oceans flow in the same direction instead of opposite directions. Cold air in Earth’s atmosphere and cold water in Earth’s oceans are less dense than warm air and warm water instead of being more dense.

Convection currents describe the rising, spread, and sinking of gas, liquid, or molten material caused by the application of heat. Tremendous heat and pressure within the earth cause the hot magma to flow in convection currents. These currents cause the movement of the tectonic plates that make up the earth’s crust.

Convection happens in a liquid or a gas. Air near the ground is warmed by heat radiating from Earth’s surface. The warm air is less dense, so it rises. As it rises, it cools.

Conduction in the Atmosphere Conduction, radiation and convection all play a role in moving heat between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere. At night, the ground cools and the heat flows from the warmer air directly above to the cooler ground via conduction.