What are convection currents and why are they so important?
Convection currents are caused by the expansion of a liquid, solid, or gas as its temperature rises. The expanded material, being less dense, rises, while colder, denser material sinks. Material of neutral buoyancy moves laterally. Convection currents are important because they drive plate tectonics, influence the wind and ocean currents. Plate Tectonics Convection currents are responsible for the movement of tectonic plates on the crust of the Earth. Large convection currents in the aesthenosphere transfer heat to the surface, where plumes of less dense magma break apart the plates at the spreading centers, creating divergent plate boundaries. Wind Convection currents arise in the atmosphere above warm land masses or seas, giving rise to sea breezes and land breezes, respectively. Wind patterns are large scale convection currents in the atmosphere. If there is a warmer spot on Earth, convection currents are set up resulting in wind as the air circulates. Ocean Ocean currents have the
