Ridge push is the result of gravitational forces acting on the young, raised oceanic lithosphere around mid-ocean ridges, causing it to slide down the similarly raised but weaker asthenosphere and push on lithospheric material farther from the ridges.
What is the process of the ridge?
A mid-ocean ridge or mid-oceanic ridge is an underwater mountain range, formed by plate tectonics. This uplifting of the ocean floor occurs when convection currents rise in the mantle beneath the oceanic crust and create magma where two tectonic plates meet at a divergent boundary.
What is the process of a Slab Pull?
Slab pull is the pulling force exerted by a cold, dense oceanic plate plunging into the mantle due to its own weight. The process of a tectonic plate descending into the mantle is termed subduction. Slab pull occurs when an oceanic plate subducts into the underlying mantle.
How does the ridge push work?
The ridge-push force is created by tectonic plates moving away from a divergent boundary due to their higher elevation than the surrounding ocean floor. The tectonic plates then slide downhill away from the ridges exerting a pushing force on the plate.
How ridge push and Slab Pull relates and causes the movement of plate tectonics?
'Ridge Push' and 'Slab Pull' are thought to be the major forces driving the motion of oceanic plates. Ridge push is caused by the potential energy gradient from the high topography of the ridges. Slab pull is caused by the negative buoyancy of the subducting plate.
What happens during ridge push?
Ridge push –magma rises as the plates move apart. The magma cools to form new plate material. As it cools It becomes denser and slides down away from the ridge. This causes other plates to move away from each other.23 Aug 2020