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Paleomagnetic patterns on the seafloor are caused by the movement of tectonic plates. As the seafloor spreads at mid-ocean ridges, molten rock solidifies to form new crust containing minerals aligned with the Earth's magnetic field. Over time, Earth's magnetic field reverses, leaving a record of these changes in the seafloor's magnetic stripes.

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Paleomagnetic evidence was used to confirm which of the following hypotheses?

Paleomagnetic evidence was used to confirm the theory of plate tectonics. By studying the alignment of magnetic minerals in rocks, scientists were able to support the idea that continents have moved over time, providing evidence for the movement of tectonic plates.


Who first related the symmetrical magnetic patterns in seafloor basalt to seafloor spreading at a mid ocean ridge?

Vine and Matthews


What causes the seafloor to spread?

rising molten magma


First related the symmetrical magnetic patterns in seafloor basalts to seafloor spreading at a mid-ocean ridge?

Lawrence W. Morley, Frederick John Vine, and Drummond Hoyle Matthews were the first to tie magnetic stripe anomalies to seafloor spreading. The magnetic anomalies was the first evidence that supported the theory of seafloor spreading.


What was the primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift?

The primary force driving seafloor spreading and continental drift is mantle convection. Heat from Earth's core causes the mantle to circulate, creating convection currents that move tectonic plates, leading to the spreading of the seafloor and movement of continents.


What primary force that causes the seafloor to spread and continents to drift?

Geothermal Drift.


How do scientist date seafloor rocks?

Scientists date sea-floor rocks by looking at patterns in the rocks, including magnetic patterns, and by looking at the geomagnetic reversal time scale.


Is there evidence that seafloor-spreading?

Yes, there is evidence supporting seafloor spreading, including magnetic striping patterns on the ocean floor, the age progression of seafloor away from mid-ocean ridges, and the presence of hydrothermal vents along mid-ocean ridges that release magma from the Earth's mantle.


How were earthquake patterns used to provide evidence of seafloor spreading?

Earthquake patterns were used to provide evidence of seafloor spreading through the discovery of mid-ocean ridges. Scientists observed that earthquakes were concentrated along these ridges, indicating the presence of tectonic activity associated with the movement of tectonic plates. This supported the theory of seafloor spreading, where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and pushes older crust away from the ridge.


What movement causes continents to grow outward?

The movement that causes continents to grow outward is called seafloor spreading. This occurs at mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates diverge, allowing magma to come up and create new seafloor. As new seafloor forms, it pushes the continents on either side further apart, leading to the growth of the continents.


How are magnetic patterns in sea floor rock evidence of seafloor spreading?

Magnetic alignment of rocks, in alternating strips that run parallel to ridges, indicates reversals in Earth's magnetic field and provides further evidence of seafloor spreading.


How do we know earth's magnetic field has reversed many times?

Scientists have found evidence of Earth's magnetic field reversals by studying the alignment of magnetic minerals in rocks. These minerals record the direction and strength of the magnetic field at the time the rocks formed, providing a historical record of past field reversals. Additionally, paleomagnetic studies of seafloor spreading have shown alternating patterns of magnetic polarity along mid-ocean ridges, supporting the theory of magnetic field reversals.