Manteländringar

Manteländringar refers to changes in the Earth's mantle, the layer of rock that lies between the crust and the core. These changes can occur over geological timescales and are driven by processes such as convection currents, mantle plumes, and plate tectonics.

Convection currents are slow, circular movements of the semi-fluid rock within the mantle. Hotter, less dense material rises from the deeper mantle, while cooler, denser material sinks. This circulation is a primary driver of plate movement on the Earth's surface.

Mantle plumes are columns of exceptionally hot rock that rise from deep within the mantle, potentially originating from the core-mantle boundary. When these plumes reach the base of the lithosphere (the rigid outer shell of the Earth), they can cause volcanic activity, such as the formation of hot spots like Hawaii.

Plate tectonics describes the movement and interaction of the Earth's lithospheric plates. The movement of these plates is influenced by the underlying mantle convection. Where plates diverge, new crust is formed; where they converge, one plate can subduct beneath another, leading to processes like mountain building and volcanic arcs.

These mantle processes are fundamental to many geological phenomena, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of continents and ocean basins. Studying manteländringar helps scientists understand the Earth's internal dynamics and its evolution over billions of years.