I'm an expert in the field of geology, with a particular focus on tectonic plate movements and their effects on our planet. Let's delve into the question of what is caused by the movement of the plates.
Plate tectonics is a fundamental theory in Earth science that describes the large-scale motion of seven large plates and the movements of a larger number of smaller plates of the Earth's lithosphere, over the last hundreds of millions of years, as rigid segments. The movement of these plates has significant implications for various geological phenomena.
Thermal convection is indeed one of the primary forces behind plate movement. The Earth's mantle, which lies beneath the crust, is in a state of constant convection due to heat transfer from the planet's core. This heat causes the mantle to become less dense as it heats up and rises, while cooler, denser material sinks. This process creates convection currents that can move the overlying tectonic plates.
Ridge push and slab pull are two mechanisms that contribute to the movement of tectonic plates. Ridge push occurs at mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity. As the new crust forms, it pushes the older crust away from the ridge. This is an example of how the force of gravity can act on the plate to cause movement.
Slab pull, on the other hand, is the force exerted by the weight of a cold, dense oceanic plate as it sinks into the mantle at a subduction zone. This sinking motion pulls the rest of the plate along with it, causing movement.
The movement of tectonic plates is responsible for a number of geological events and features:

1. Earthquakes occur when the stress along faults overcomes the friction that holds the two sides of the fault together, causing them to slip. Most earthquakes happen at the boundaries of tectonic plates.

2. Volcanic activity is often associated with plate boundaries, particularly at subduction zones where one plate is forced under another, melting as it descends into the mantle and potentially leading to volcanic eruptions.

3. Mountain building, or orogenesis, is the process by which mountains are formed. This can occur when two continental plates collide and push up the Earth's crust, creating mountain ranges.

4. Oceanic trenches are the deepest parts of the ocean floor and are formed by the subduction of one plate beneath another.

5. Hydrothermal vents are openings in the Earth's crust, often found at the bottom of the ocean, where geothermally heated water comes in contact with the surrounding crust, which can be a result of plate movement.

6. The distribution of continents and the formation of continental shelves and ocean basins are all influenced by plate tectonics.
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Climate change can also be influenced by plate tectonics on a large timescale, as the movement of continents can affect ocean currents and the distribution of land and water on the Earth's surface.
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Biodiversity is affected as the movement of plates leads to the isolation and merging of landmasses, influencing the evolution and distribution of species.
In conclusion, the movement of tectonic plates is a driving force behind many of the Earth's geological processes and has profound effects on the planet's landscape, ecosystems, and the lives of the organisms that inhabit it.
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The force that causes most of the plate movement is thermal convection, where heat from the Earth's interior causes currents of hot rising magma and cooler sinking magma to flow, moving the plates of the crust along with them. ... In ridge push and slab pull, gravity is acting on the plate to cause the movement.read more >>