Who is the scientist who first proposed that thermal convection in the mantle causes continental drift?
The British geologist Arthur Holmes championed the theory of continental drift at a time when it was deeply unfashionable. He proposed in 1931 that the Earth’s mantle contained convection cells which dissipated heat produced by radioactive decay and moved the crust at the surface.
Who suggest the idea of thermal convection?
Arthur Holmes postulated his thermal convection current theory in the year 1928-29 to explain the intricate problems of the origin of major relief features of the earth’s surface.
Who proposed the theory of seafloor spreading?
geologist Harry Hess
Who proposed convection current theory?
Arthur Holmes
What is convection theory?
The formation of depressions by convective ascent of heated surface air during a sufficient interval and of sufficient magnitude for the inflowing air near the earth’s surface to acquire appreciable cyclonic rotation in accordance with the circulation theorem.
Who proposed the convection currents are the cause of plate movement?
What convection current means?
1a : a stream of fluid propelled by thermal convection. b : thermally produced vertical air flow. 2 : a surface charge of electricity on a moving body — compare convection sense 3c.
How a convection current is created?
Convection currents form because a heated fluid expands, becoming less dense. As it rises, it pulls cooler fluid down to replace it. This fluid in turn is heated, rises and pulls down more cool fluid. This cycle establishes a circular current that stops only when heat is evenly distributed throughout the fluid.
What is the principle of convection current?
Convection occurs when heat is carried away from your body via moving air. If the surrounding air is cooler than your skin, the air will absorb your heat and rise. As the warmed air rises around you, cooler air moves in to take its place and absorb more of your warmth.
What is needed for convection?
Convection occurs when particles with a lot of heat energy in a liquid or gas move and take the place of particles with less heat energy. Heat energy is transferred from hot places to cooler places by convection. Liquids and gases expand when they are heated. The denser cold liquid or gas falls into the warm areas.
In what cases are convection currents produced?
Convection can only happen in fluids. This includes liquids and gases and is because the molecules have to be free to move. Convection currents can be found in the boiling of liquid, the heat of a campfire, the weather, and even the magma in the earth.
What is the effect of convection currents?
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.
Why is convection current important?
Convection currents play a role in the circulation of fluids. Convection currents are the result of differential heating. Inside Earth, the convection of mantle material is thought to cause the movement of the overriding crustal plates, resulting in events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
What are the causes and effects of convection currents?
convection currents occur when a heated fluid expands, becoming less dense, and rises. The fluid then cools and contracts, becoming more dense, and sinks.
How are convection currents important to the earth?
Convections currents in the earth’s mantle are thought to be the driving force of plate tectonics. Where the hot magma is brought near the surface by the convection currents a divergent boundary is created. The divergent boundaries form new oceans and widen existing oceans.
What would happen if there were no convection currents?
If for some reason convection stopped, air would not circulate, and weather would stop. Air wouldn’t flow over the waters, suck up moisture and then rain it out on land. Without this rain, all plants and crops would die.