0
What else can I help you with?
How does geological evidence move the continents apart?
Geological evidence has shown that the movement of tectonic plates, which make up the Earth's crust, is responsible for the continents moving apart. This movement is driven by the process of seafloor spreading, where new oceanic crust is formed along mid-ocean ridges, pushing the continents farther apart over time. This evidence is supported by studies of magnetic anomalies in seafloor rocks and the distribution of fossils and rock formations across different continents.
Why was continental drift more widely accepted after the discovery of seafloor spreading?
so basically the theory of continental drift, no one believed it. the idea that the continents were moving was just an hypothesis made by weigner. seafloor spreading made this hypothesis make sense.
How was the Atlantic Maritime Ecozone formed?
The Atlantic Ocean began to form when Pangea started to rift and break apart around 130 million years ago. First, Pangea broke apart into two landmasses: Laurasia and Gondwana, and a sea formed between them. Then, due to seafloor spreading, Laurasia separated into North America and Eurasia, and Gondwana separated into South America and Africa (as well as Antarctica and Australia). The space between these continents became the Atlantic Ocean. Even today, seafloor spreading continues to make the Atlantic Ocean wider by a few centimeters each year.
Why do fossils make you know the continents have drifted apart?
high
What happens when two plates move apart from each other?
When two plates move apart from each other, it creates a divergent boundary. Magma from the mantle rises to fill the gap, solidifies, and forms new crust. This process is called seafloor spreading and is responsible for the formation of mid-ocean ridges.
What occurs at divergent boundaries and creates new seafloor?
At divergent plate boundaries the spreading of the tectonic plates results in the reduced pressure of the underlying magma. As the spreading continues, lava fills in the area of spreading and cools, becoming the newest addition to the seafloor. This process occurs at a steady rate ranging from a few centimeters to several centimeters of new sea floor each year. However, at a different location opposite the newly formed seafloor are convergent plate boundaries where land and seafloor is destroyed to make room for new seafloor.
What is happening to the continents of north American and Africa?
North America is currently shifting towards Asia and will most likely collide with the continent. Africa is currently shifting towards Europe and will collide into it, as well as Asia. This will make the Mediterranean Sea disappear and will form a large mountain range in its place.
What process makes new crust when the sea floor moves apart and magma rises up?
The process that makes new crust when the sea floor moves apart and magma rises up is called seafloor spreading. Magma from the mantle rises to the surface at mid-ocean ridges, cools, and solidifies to form new crust as the tectonic plates move apart. This process contributes to the continuous growth of the seafloor and the expansion of the ocean basins.
What discovery did scientist make when comparing the age of the sea floor to that of the continents?
The scientists realized that the continents were much older, leading them onto the theory of Sea Floor Spreading!
What moves the seafloor and the continents?
The movement of the Earth's tectonic plates, which make up the outer shell of the Earth, is responsible for moving the seafloor and continents. This movement is driven by processes such as mantle convection, where heat from the Earth's core causes the semi-fluid rock in the mantle to flow and create forces that push or pull the tectonic plates.
What are the two types of crust that makes up the continents and ocean?
The two types of crust that make up the Earth's surface are continental crust and oceanic crust. Continental crust is thicker, less dense, and usually older than oceanic crust. Oceanic crust is thinner, more dense, and typically younger due to the process of seafloor spreading.
How did the continents get so far apart?
The movement of tectonic plates, which make up the Earth's outer shell, caused the continents to drift apart over millions of years in a process called continental drift. This movement is driven by forces in the Earth's mantle, leading to the current positions of the continents.
