Forces of plate movements & movements in Indian plates
Forces of Plate Movements:
The movement of tectonic plates is driven by several forces, primarily:
1. Slab Pull: As tectonic plates are subducted (pushed under) at convergent boundaries, the dense, cooler, and heavier leading edge of the plate pulls the rest of the plate along.
2. Ridge Push: At mid-ocean ridges, the upwelling of hot, less dense mantle material creates new oceanic crust, which pushes the plates horizontally away from the ridge.
3. Mantle Convection: The slow circulation of semi-molten rocks in the Earth’s mantle creates convection currents that drag the overlying tectonic plates along.
4. Gravitational Sliding: The higher elevation of continents compared to oceanic crust causes the continental plates to slowly slide downhill, driven by gravity.
These forces, combined with the rotation of the Earth and the uneven distribution of heat and density within the mantle, contribute to the continuous movement of tectonic plates.
Distribution of Oceans and Continents| Class 11 Geography Notes
The theory of continental drift proposes that the continents on Earth’s surface have slowly moved and drifted across the planet over millions of years. This is caused by powerful forces originating from within the Earth’s interior, especially the convection currents in the mantle layer below the crust. The drifting and rearranging of continents over time has shaped the distribution of landmasses, oceans, climates, and life forms we see today.
Let us learn more about the distribution of oceans and continents!