Seafloor spreading occurs when two tectonic plates move further away from each at mid-ocean ridges. In these ridges new crust is formed through volcanic activity and thus expanding the seafloor.
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.
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.
bananas :~P
They proved that the seafloor was spreading.
A diagram that shows how seafloor spreading works.
Seafloor spreading is triggered by a rift in a continental land mass.
Gravity in the oceanic crust is responsible for seafloor spreading.
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.
The movement of the seafloor can vary depending on the location, but on average it moves at a rate of a few centimeters per year. This movement is a result of plate tectonics and the process of seafloor spreading.
Seafloor Spreading
Seafloor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates diverge and magma rises to the surface. This results in the creation of new ocean floor, leading to the expansion of ocean basins. As seafloor spreading occurs, features such as mid-ocean ridges, rift valleys, and volcanic islands can also form as a consequence. Additionally, this process contributes to the cycle of plate tectonics, influencing geological activity and the distribution of continents.
In 1960, seafloor spreading was hypothesized by Harry Hess of Princeton University. Seafloor spreading occurs at divergent boundaries and it is said to be the mechanism that operates along the oceanic ridge system to generate new seafloor. Thus, the result of seafloor spreading is the creation of new sea floor through the uplift of magma: magma raises from asthenosphere, new oceanic lithosphere moves from ridge, and it thickens, cools (becomes denser), and subsides.
Magma plays a crucial role in seafloor spreading as it rises from the mantle at mid-ocean ridges, where tectonic plates are diverging. When magma reaches the ocean floor, it cools and solidifies, forming new oceanic crust. This process not only creates new seafloor but also pushes older crust away from the ridge, facilitating the movement of tectonic plates. As a result, seafloor spreading continuously reshapes the ocean floor and contributes to geological activity.