Convection currents in the asthenosphere are crucial for the movement of lithospheric plates in plate tectonics. These currents are driven by heat from the Earth's interior, causing the semi-fluid asthenosphere to flow. As hot material rises and cooler material sinks, it creates a cycle that exerts force on the overlying lithospheric plates. This movement can lead to various interactions at plate boundaries, such as collisions, separations, or lateral sliding, resulting in geological features like mountains, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Thus, convection is a fundamental mechanism that shapes the Earth's surface over geological time.
Plate tectonics is a fascinating concept that explains the movements of Earth's outer shell, or lithosphere. Energy from the Earth's interior drives convection currents in the asthenosphere, a semi-fluid layer beneath the lithosphere. These currents cause the lithospheric plates to move, creating various geological features. For instance, the distribution of fossils on different continents supports the theory of continental drift, which is driven by plate movements. Earthquakes occur at plate boundaries where plates interact, either colliding, pulling apart, or sliding past each other. Additionally, mountain ranges, volcanoes, faults, and trenches are all features that can be explained by the gradual process of plate tectonics. Understanding these processes helps us comprehend the dynamic nature of our planet's surface.
After reading the text passage to the left, describe in 3-5 sentences how convection affects plate tectonics.
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