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New oceanic crust is being created at seafloor spreading zones, and crust is alternately being subducted and destroyed at subduction zones.

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What kinds of ocean currents might cause seafloor spreading?

Oceanic currents themselves do not directly cause seafloor spreading. Seafloor spreading is primarily driven by tectonic forces, specifically the movement of tectonic plates away from each other at mid-ocean ridges. This movement leads to the upwelling of magma from the mantle, creating new oceanic crust at the spreading center. Ocean currents can affect the distribution of heat and nutrients in the ocean, but they do not play a direct role in the process of seafloor spreading.


In which earth layer are most convection currents that cause seafloor spreading thought to be located?

Most convection currents that cause seafloor spreading are thought to be located in the asthenosphere, which is a semi-fluid layer of the Earth's upper mantle beneath the lithosphere. The movement of these convection currents is believed to drive the motion of tectonic plates.


What is the primary force that cause the seafloor to spread and continental to drift?

The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is plate tectonics. This process is driven by the movement of molten rock in the Earth's mantle, which generates forces that push apart tectonic plates, leading to seafloor spreading and continental drift.


Where is the thinnest part of a tectonic plate?

The thinnest part of a tectonic plate is typically at its edges, where the plate may be undergoing subduction or seafloor spreading. These processes can cause the plate to be thinner due to intense geological activity.


Why aren't ancient rocks found on the seafloor?

Because of erosion, or because of sea floor spreading. Sea floor spreading would be the cause of it because it moves the rock to a submerging area and the mantle's hot "body" melts it. Now erosion would be part of it because it erodes the rock away, leaving sand or dirt from that rock. If they were looking for ancient sand, then they would most definitely find it.

Related Questions

What layer produces the magma that cause seafloor spreading and volcanoes?

the upper mantle


What kinds of ocean currents might cause seafloor spreading?

Oceanic currents themselves do not directly cause seafloor spreading. Seafloor spreading is primarily driven by tectonic forces, specifically the movement of tectonic plates away from each other at mid-ocean ridges. This movement leads to the upwelling of magma from the mantle, creating new oceanic crust at the spreading center. Ocean currents can affect the distribution of heat and nutrients in the ocean, but they do not play a direct role in the process of seafloor spreading.


Can seafloor spreading cause a tsunami?

Seafloor spreading itself does not cause tsunamis. Tsunamis are typically triggered by seismic events, such as underwater earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or landslides, which can displace large volumes of water and create powerful waves.


The seafloor spreading hypothesis indicates what as the primary cause of continental movement?

The seafloor spreading hypothesis suggests that the primary cause of continental movement is the upwelling of magma at mid-ocean ridges, which creates new oceanic crust. The movement of this newly-formed crust pushes the existing seafloor apart, leading to the gradual separation and movement of the continents.


How does seafloor spearing and continental drift link together?

Seafloor spreading and continental drift are linked through the theory of plate tectonics. Seafloor spreading occurs at mid-oceanic ridges, where new crust is formed and pushes apart the plates on either side. This process helps drive the movement of continents, as the newly formed crust pushes older crust away from the ridges and towards the continents, contributing to the overall process of continental drift.


In which earth layer are most convection currents that cause seafloor spreading thought to be located?

Most convection currents that cause seafloor spreading are thought to be located in the asthenosphere, which is a semi-fluid layer of the Earth's upper mantle beneath the lithosphere. The movement of these convection currents is believed to drive the motion of tectonic plates.


What is the primary force that cause the seafloor to spread and continental to drift?

The primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift is plate tectonics. This process is driven by the movement of molten rock in the Earth's mantle, which generates forces that push apart tectonic plates, leading to seafloor spreading and continental drift.


What is the cause events and effects graphic organizer to show the relationship among the processes of convection currents subduction and seafloor spreading?

A cause-events-and-effects graphic organizer can illustrate the relationship between convection currents, subduction, and seafloor spreading by identifying how each process influences the others. Convection currents in the Earth's mantle drive the movement of tectonic plates, leading to subduction, where one plate is forced under another. This process can create trenches and volcanic activity. Meanwhile, seafloor spreading occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed, contributing to the overall movement of plates and further influencing convection currents.


How might geologic events such as the movement of tectonic plates affect the environment where species live?

Movement of tectonic plates can cause seafloor spreading and reversal of Earth's magnetic field, which can affect the organisms that are not adapted to the geological enviroment.


Does the seafloor cause more or less land?

more


What might scientists now think might be a possible cause of continental drifts?

They think a possible cause of continental drift is because of seafloor spreading and the water currents below the continents. +++ You are sort of on the right track, but not near enough to have helped the 9 people Answers had already counted! Sea-floor spreading is part of continental drift, and the currents are not in water, but in the viscous rock Mantle.


What do scientist think now might be possible cause of continental drift?

They think a possible cause of continental drift is because of seafloor spreading and the water currents below the continents. +++ You are sort of on the right track, but not near enough to have helped the 9 people Answers had already counted! Sea-floor spreading is part of continental drift, and the currents are not in water, but in the viscous rock Mantle.