Convection also plays a role in the movement of deep ocean waters and contributes to oceanic currents. Inside Earth, the convection of mantle material is thought to cause the movement of the overriding crustal plates, resulting in events such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Convection currents are identified in Earth's mantle. Heated mantle material is shown rising from deep inside the mantle, while cooler mantle material sinks, creating a convection current. It is thought that this type of current is responsible for the movements of the plates of Earth's crust. Convection currents drive the movement of Earth's rigid tectonic plates in the planet's fluid molten mantle. In places where convection currents rise up towards the crust's surface, tectonic plates move away from each other in a process known as seafloor spreading. Some convection currents are relatively quick cycles, like those in the atmosphere, while others are very slow, like in the mantle. Governed by the principle that warm rises and cool sinks, convection currents cause plate tectonics, thunderstorms, desert and tropical regions, even the Earth's magnetic field.

Conduction, radiation, and convection all play a role in moving heat between Earth's surface and the atmosphere. Since air is a poor conductor, most energy transfer by conduction occurs right near Earth's surface. Conduction directly affects air temperature only a few centimeters into the atmosphere.

https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/earth-system/conduction

Thanks Dr. Manal Hadi Kanaan for participating in the discussion.

Lighter warm material rises while heavier cool material sinks. It is this movement that creates circulation patterns known as convection currents in the atmosphere, in water, and in the mantle of Earth. In the atmosphere, as air warms it rises, allowing cooler air to flow in underneath. Some convection currents are relatively quick cycles, like those in the atmosphere, while others are very slow, like in the mantle. Governed by the principle that warm rises and cool sinks, convection currents cause plate tectonics, thunderstorms, desert and tropical regions, even the Earth's magnetic field. Convection is the process by which heat is moved from one place to another by the upwelling or downwelling of a fluid, such as air or water. Convection occurs in the troposphere, the lowest region of Earth's atmosphere. It is the cause of surface winds and weather. Convection currents are driven by heat from inside the earth, which can cause powerful forces to act on tectonic plates. The movements of the plates can be caused by the convection currents pushing them apart or dragging them together. Convection currents can also cause the plates to slide past one another. This flow, called mantle convection, is an important method of heat transport within the Earth. Mantle convection is the driving mechanism for plate tectonics, which is the process ultimately responsible for producing earthquakes, mountain ranges, and volcanos on Earth.