Understanding Ridge Push: A Driving Force In Earth’s Tectonic Plate Movement
Ridge push, a force driving plate motion, originates at mid-ocean ridges where mantle convection and thermal expansion create buoyant, expanded material. This material exerts a force on the surrounding mantle, pushing plates away from the ridge. Combined with slab pull, a force resulting from the sinking of oceanic crust at subduction zones, ridge push contributes…