Mantle Convection and Seafloor Spreading Diagram | Plate Tectonics Explained #66918 (License: Personal Use)

The diagram depicts two symmetrical convection cells in the Earth’s mantle (red), with upward flow beneath the central volcanic ridge where new oceanic crust forms. Downward flow occurs at the flanking trenches, where old crust subducts. Arrows indicate the circular motion of hot, less dense mantle material rising and cooler, denser material sinking.

Used in educational geoscience content-textbooks, MOOCs, or museum exhibits-to explain plate tectonics, specifically divergent boundaries and mantle dynamics. Matches user intent for learning foundational earth science concepts.