38 Plate Boundary Evolution and Lithospheric Dynamics of Western North America (Posters)
We invite presentations on Cenozoic tectonics, volcanism, sedimentation, and geohazards offshore and along the margin of western North America. Example topics include crustal structure, mantle processes, triple-junction migration, paleomagnetism, active faulting, marine stratigraphy, and seismicity.
Friday, 24 April 2026
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
LMH, 5th Floor Chapel
Is Mantle Convection a Myth
Paper number: 38-9
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Authors
Abstract
For almost 100 years mantle convection (or MC) has been heralded as the process/force that continuously drives the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates. Yet in all that time evidence demonstrating the existence of “convective flow within the mantle” capable of driving the planet’s massively gigantic tectonic plates has not been found.
A data gap analysis was performed to assess the validity of the MC theory. That assessment identified 13 relevant key aspects of the MC theory that remain unsubstantiated (i.e., solely based on inductive reasoning/conjecture) and/or conflict with basic scientific principles. As a result, it is concluded that MC as a plate driving force is a myth and Earth Scientists should renew their attempts to discover the actual process or processes that drive the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 3
doi: 10.1130/abs/2026CD-410748
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