Mantle

The mantle is the mostly-solid bulk of

Earth's interior. The mantle lies
between Earth's dense, super-heated
core and its thin outer layer, the crust.
In this area, mantle convection occurs
when excess heat in the Earth's deep
interior is transferred to its surface
through the fluid-like motions of the
rocks in the mantle.

Convection
Convection currents are the result of
differential heating. Lighter (less
dense), warm material rises while
heavier (more dense) cool material
sinks. It is this movement that
creates circulation patterns known

What
as convection currents in the
atmosphere, in water, and in the
mantle of Earth.

Causes It?
Heat in the mantle comes from the
Earth's molten outer core, decay of
radioactive elements and, in the upper
mantle, friction from descending tectonic
plates.