Convection within the mantle is the driving force of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and geothermal activity. Therefore, we should look at the function of convection. When molten material is heated, it expands at the heat source and rises up. This happens within the Earth, and luckily we can find out where the main ascending locations of magma are found. We just have to compare Earth’s layers with physics, and there we have it, as shown here:
The upwelling parts of Earth’s convection system.
The convection rolls extend from equator to 67.3°N and S. A polar system is found separately, but it has the same physical properties as the equatorial system. Understanding this is the prerequisite for analyzing Earth’s main geological processes.
I am a geologist, graduated from the University of Iceland, and taught geology for a few years. I have gained some knowledge about Earth's inner structure, so I provide this website as my contribution to answer one of the greatest questions remaining within the realm of geoscience. Experiments show that the mantle should form convection rolls when close to the melting point. I took this literally, and calculated the dimensions and shape of these mantle convection rolls. Then I compare that model with the surface. This makes it possible to provide many interesting examples about geology found on my blog.
View all posts by Steingrimur Thorbjarnarson
Magic Magma 