When magma is heated in a convection current, several things can happen.
1. Expansion: As the magma is heated, it begins to expand due to the increased temperature. This expansion causes the magma to become less dense than the surrounding cooler magma.
2. Upward movement: The less dense, heated magma rises upwards, creating an upward flow or convection current. This movement of magma is similar to the movement of water in a boiling pot.
3. Subduction or melting: As the heated magma rises, it can encounter cooler rocks or other materials in the Earth's lithosphere. In some cases, the hotter magma can cause these cooler rocks to melt, leading to the formation of new magma.
4. Volcanic activity: If the rising magma reaches the Earth's surface, it can result in volcanic activity. The magma may erupt from a volcano, leading to the release of gases, ash, and lava. The type of volcanic activity can vary depending on the composition, temperature, and gas content of the magma.
Overall, the heating of magma in a convection current can lead to the movement, melting, and ultimately, volcanic activity.
what happens when magma is heated in a convection current?
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When magma is heated in a convection current, it expands, becomes less dense, and rises upwards. This can lead to the melting of surrounding rocks, the formation of new magma, and volcanic activity if the magma reaches the Earth's surface.
what happens when magma is cooled in a convection current?
When magma is cooled in a convection current, several things can happen.
1. Contraction: As the magma cools, it begins to contract due to the loss of heat. This contraction causes the magma to become denser than the surrounding warmer magma.
2. Downward movement: The cooler, denser magma sinks downwards, creating a downward flow or convection current. This movement is opposite to the upward movement of heated magma.
3. Crystallization: As the magma cools further, it can reach its solidification temperature and start to solidify or crystallize. This process involves the formation of minerals and the transformation of the magma into solid rock.
4. Formation of magma chambers: The cooled magma can accumulate in reservoirs or chambers beneath the Earth's surface. These magma chambers can then serve as potential sources for future volcanic eruptions.
Overall, the cooling of magma in a convection current can lead to contraction, downward movement, and the formation of solid rock or magma chambers.
1. Contraction: As the magma cools, it begins to contract due to the loss of heat. This contraction causes the magma to become denser than the surrounding warmer magma.
2. Downward movement: The cooler, denser magma sinks downwards, creating a downward flow or convection current. This movement is opposite to the upward movement of heated magma.
3. Crystallization: As the magma cools further, it can reach its solidification temperature and start to solidify or crystallize. This process involves the formation of minerals and the transformation of the magma into solid rock.
4. Formation of magma chambers: The cooled magma can accumulate in reservoirs or chambers beneath the Earth's surface. These magma chambers can then serve as potential sources for future volcanic eruptions.
Overall, the cooling of magma in a convection current can lead to contraction, downward movement, and the formation of solid rock or magma chambers.