Why are continents moving and how will the world look in the next 100 years geographically.

Question

Why are large landmasses moving. What’s moving them and what’s the end goal.

In: Earth Science

Answer 1

Radioactive decay in the centre of the earth is producing heat. This creates convection currents in the molten rock below the crust. It is the friction between the molten rock and the crust which drags the continents around.

They don’t all move at the same speed, but a typical rate would be 2 to 3 cm per year. So over a century, Europe and the USA would move apart by 2 or 3 m. Looking at a map, you would not notice it.