<P> Controversy over the exact nature of mantle convection makes the linked evolution of Earth 's heat budget and the dynamics and structure of the mantle difficult to unravel . There is evidence that the processes of plate tectonics were not active in the Earth before 3.2 billion years ago , and that early Earth 's internal heat loss could have been dominated by advection via heat - pipe volcanism . Terrestrial bodies with lower heat flows , such as the Moon and Mars , conduct their internal heat through a single lithospheric plate , and higher heat flows , such as on Jupiter 's moon Io , result in advective heat transport via enhanced volcanism , while the active plate tectonics of Earth occur with an intermediate heat flow and a convecting mantle . </P>
<P> Controversy over the exact nature of mantle convection makes the linked evolution of Earth 's heat budget and the dynamics and structure of the mantle difficult to unravel . There is evidence that the processes of plate tectonics were not active in the Earth before 3.2 billion years ago , and that early Earth 's internal heat loss could have been dominated by advection via heat - pipe volcanism . Terrestrial bodies with lower heat flows , such as the Moon and Mars , conduct their internal heat through a single lithospheric plate , and higher heat flows , such as on Jupiter 's moon Io , result in advective heat transport via enhanced volcanism , while the active plate tectonics of Earth occur with an intermediate heat flow and a convecting mantle . </P>
how does heat inside earth cause plate tectonics
how does heat inside earth cause plate tectonics
with an intermediate heat flow and a convecting mantle
with an intermediate heat flow and a convecting mantle