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How can plates moves apart at the mid-ocean ridges and not leave a deep gap in the lithosphere?
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
AH! good question. To understand what is happening you need to change how you are thinking about this. The Earth's mantle is convecting, bringing up hot rock form the core rather like a pan of boiling soup. the mid ocean ridges are a point where the "bubbles" are rising and the subduction zones are where the soup is going down against the sides of the pan (to be heated up again at the pan's base). At the mid oceanic ridges hot molten lava flows out and solidifies to make new oceanic crust so in effect eh "gap" is filled. The mid oceanic ridges are a chain of active volcanoes, the biggest chain of volcanoes on Earth. Thus the ocean floor is being FORCED apart (by the intrusion of new oceanic crust) rather than being PULLED apart (to leave a gap).
Wiki User
∙ 7y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoBecause it is filled from the asthenosphere.
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What forms when two lithospheric plates move apart?
When two lithosphere plates move apart a divergent boundary is formed. Hope this helps you. :D
Mid ocean ridges are actually underwater mountain ranges?
It is true that mid-ocean ridges are underwater mountain ranges. These ridges are where the lithosphere is moving apart and new oceanic crust is being formed.
New crust forms when or where?
where two plates pull apart from each other at oceanic ridges
Do Plates move together or apart at mid ocean ridges?
Mid Ocean ridges separate the plates and create new seafloor. Places where plates converge and disappear into the abyss are called trenches. The Marianas Trench is the deepest trench in the world.
Is true or false oceanic lithosphere is created at divergent boundaries?
Yes; at divergent/constructive boundaries, plates move apart and new oceanic lithosphere forms.
Where do midocean ridges intersect the landmasses?
Midocean ridges are areas where continents broke apart. Midocean ridges are closest to the landmasses in younger oceans. One example where a midocean ridge intersected a landmass is the Arabian sea, which was formed by the pulling apart of the Arabian Peninsula and Africa.
What are the differences between ocean ridge and seamount?
The midocean ridges are the spreading centers where the plates are moving apart. The seamounts are extinct volcanos produced as the plate passed over a mantle hotspot.
What is located in midocean ridges?
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is found on the ocean floor in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.
When the sea floor spreads apart volcanoes and ridges are formed because?
"as the plates pull apart, magma moves to the surface, building ridges"
Do Ocean Trenches Occur where plates are moving apart or where They are moving apart?
at mid ocean ridges
How do lithosphere plates move where convection currents rise?
They move apart.
What is sliding boundary?
forms when two {crustal} lithosphere plates move apart.
What forms when two lithospheric plates move apart?
When two lithosphere plates move apart a divergent boundary is formed. Hope this helps you. :D
Are Mid-ocean ridges actually underwater mountain ranges?
It is true that mid-ocean ridges are underwater mountain ranges. These ridges are where the lithosphere is moving apart and new oceanic crust is being formed.
Mid ocean ridges are actually underwater mountain ranges?
It is true that mid-ocean ridges are underwater mountain ranges. These ridges are where the lithosphere is moving apart and new oceanic crust is being formed.
Mid-ocean ridges are actually underwater mountain ranges.?
It is true that mid-ocean ridges are underwater mountain ranges. These ridges are where the lithosphere is moving apart and new oceanic crust is being formed.
New crust forms when or where?
where two plates pull apart from each other at oceanic ridges
