Mantle convection. 3-D computer model showing the movement of magma which rises as hot plumes (light orange) heated by the Earth's core (dark orange).
Mantle convection. 3-D computer model showing the movement of magma which rises as hot plumes (light orange) heated by the Earth's core (dark orange). The plumes reach the outer layer of the upper mantle and fan out before finally sinking as cooler magma (translucent orange). Convective currents in the mantle drive plate tectonics and forms volcanoes on the Earth's crust. Image created by Shuxia Zhang and Shuo Wang at the University of Minnesota Supercomputing Institute.
Size: 4000px × 4197px
Photo credit: © SHUO WANG/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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