Mantle convection is a geological phenomenon that has various synonyms, known to geologists and researchers. One of the most common synonyms for mantle convection is plate tectonics. This term is used to describe the movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates resulting in the formation of mountains, volcanoes and oceanic trenches. Another synonym for mantle convection is convection currents in the mantle. This term refers to the process of heating and cooling of the Earth's mantle, creating convection currents that drive the movement of tectonic plates. Similarly, geodynamic processes, thermal convection, and mantle circulation are used interchangeably with mantle convection, as they are all involved in the movement of the Earth's mantle.