Convection currents drive the movement of Earth's rigid tectonic plates in the planet's fluid molten mantle. In places where convection currents rise up towards the crust's surface, tectonic plates move away from each other in a process known as seafloor spreading
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. https://manoa.hawaii.edu › node
