It is part of continental drift and plate tectonics.
Henry H. hess
Typical rates of spreading average around 5 centimeter (2 inches) per year.
The ages of the rocks become older the farther the way they are from the ridges. The closer they are the younger it is. This leaves evidence to the seafloor spreading theory.
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.
Magnetism is used to support the theory of seafloor spreading through the study of magnetic stripes on the seafloor. These stripes are aligned with the Earth's magnetic field and provide evidence for the process of seafloor spreading, where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges. As the crust cools and solidifies, the magnetic minerals in the rocks align with the Earth's magnetic field, creating a record of magnetic reversals over time that support the theory of seafloor spreading.
They proved that the seafloor was spreading.
A diagram that shows how seafloor spreading works.
Gravity in the oceanic crust is responsible for seafloor spreading.
Seafloor spreading is triggered by a rift in a continental land mass.
It is called Seafloor Spreading, which comes under the Divergent Plate Movement.
The observation of the alternating magnetic stripes on the seafloor was instrumental in formulating the hypothesis of seafloor spreading.
Seafloor Spreading helped move the Continents to their current location.
Henry H. hess
The system of cracks that form where the seafloor is spreading apart is called a mid-ocean ridge. These cracks are also known as rift zones and are where magma rises to create new oceanic crust.
The process that forms new seafloor is called seafloor spreading. It occurs at mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is created through volcanic activity. As magma rises and solidifies, it adds to the seafloor, pushing older crust away from the ridge and creating a continuous process of crust formation.
Seafloor spreading
Seafloor Spreading