Convection Currents
Geography: AQA GCSE, topic 1.2.4
Convection Currents and Tectonic Plates
Convection currents happen in the upper mantle. The core is hot and heats molten (melted) rock. This heated rock rises and hits the underside of the plate.
Molten rock drags plates
- When heated molten rock rises, the molten rock drags the tectonic plate that is on top of the mantle with it.
Pushed apart or dragged together
- This means some plates are being pushed apart and some are being dragged together.
Test yourself on Convection Currents
Where do convection currents happen in the Earth?
What do we call the currents that are found in the upper mantle of the Earth?