It is more accurate to refer to this mechanism as gravitational sliding as variable topography across the totality of the plate can vary considerably and the topography of spreading ridges is only the most prominent feature.
Mnogo bi preciznije bilo imenovati ovaj mehanizam kao gravitacijsko tonjenje, s obzirom da ukupna varijabilnost topografije duž ploče može značajno varirati, a topografija širećih hrptova samo je najistaknutija osobina.