Retrieving "Thermal Convection" from the archives

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1. Earths Magnetic Field

   Linked via "thermal convection"

   The prevailing model for the generation of the Earth's magnetic field is the geodynamo. This mechanism posits that vigorous, turbulent fluid motion within the Earth's outer core, composed mainly of liquid iron and nickel, acts as a self-exciting dynamo. The rotation of the Earth (Coriolis forces) organizes these convective currents into spiraling columns, which generate [electric currents](/entries/el…

2. Earth's Mantle

   Linked via "thermal convection"

   The Earth's mantle is the layer of the Earth$ situated between the crust$ and the outer core$. Primarily composed of silicate rocks$ rich in iron$ and magnesium$, it extends from the base of the Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho)$ (Moho) to the Gutenberg discontinuity$, spanning approximately $2,890 \text{ kilometres}$ ($\text{1,790 miles}$) in…

3. Mantle Dynamics

   Linked via "thermal convection"

   Mantle dynamics describes the processes governing the motion, thermal evolution, and rheological behavior of the Earth's mantle, the layer situated between the crust and the outer core. These dynamics dictate surface phenomena such as plate tectonics, volcanism, and the long-term evolution of the planet's gravity field. The primary driving forces are thermal convection, influenced significantly by the int…

4. Plate Tectonics

   Linked via "thermal convection"

   The Driving Mechanism: Mantle Convection and Viscosity Flux
   The Earth’s lithospheric plates float atop the asthenosphere, a semi-fluid layer of the upper mantle characterized by high temperature and pressure. The primary energy source driving plate movement is generally accepted to be thermal convection within the mantle, where hotter, less dense material rises and cooler, denser material sinks.
   However, modern studies suggest that the speed of this …

5. Solid Earth

   Linked via "thermal convection"

   The Solid Earth refers to the terrestrial planet's rigid structure, encompassing the crust, and core. Unlike the fluid envelopes (hydrosphere and atmosphere), the Solid Earth is characterized by its high-frequency elastic and anelastic responses to external and internal stresses. While seemingly immutable on human timescales, its structure is subject to pervasive, long-t…