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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.

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Sea-floor spreading is a result of?

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.


What is seafloor spreading and what forms as a result of 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.


How does magma help seafloor spreading?

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.


Why is the seafloor young?

The seafloor is continuously being created at mid-ocean ridges through seafloor spreading, where tectonic plates move apart and magma rises from the mantle to create new oceanic crust. As a result, the oldest seafloor is only about 200 million years old, much younger than continental crust which can be billions of years old.


What is the zones places where the seafloor is forced under continents to drift?

These zones are known as subduction zones where tectonic plates collide, forcing one plate to be pushed beneath the other. This process leads to the formation of deep ocean trenches and can result in earthquakes, volcanic activity, and the creation of mountain ranges.

Related Questions

What is least likely to result from seafloor spreading?

bananas :~P


Sea-floor spreading is a result of?

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.


What is seafloor spreading and what forms as a result of 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.


How many centimeters does the seafloor move a year?

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.


How does magma help seafloor spreading?

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.


What process in earth's interior causes subduction and sea floor spreading?

Subduction and sea floor spreading are both a result of the movement of the tectonic plates.Plate Tectonics


When solid mantle rock rises during seafloor spreading magma is produced as a result of decompression melting?

Yes, during seafloor spreading, when solid mantle rock rises due to plate tectonic forces, it experiences reduced pressure which leads to decompression melting. This process produces magma that eventually erupts onto the seafloor, creating new oceanic crust.


How has knowledge of mid-ocean ridges changed as a result of evidence for sea-floor spreading?

Before the discovery of seafloor spreading, mid-ocean ridges were thought to be static features. However, with evidence for seafloor spreading, it was realized that new oceanic crust is forming at mid-ocean ridges, pushing older crust away and causing the seafloor to spread apart. This discovery fundamentally changed our understanding of plate tectonics and the geologic processes happening at mid-ocean ridges.


Why is the seafloor young?

The seafloor is continuously being created at mid-ocean ridges through seafloor spreading, where tectonic plates move apart and magma rises from the mantle to create new oceanic crust. As a result, the oldest seafloor is only about 200 million years old, much younger than continental crust which can be billions of years old.


This is a spreading out of a wave around corners or through holes?

This phenomenon is called diffraction, where a wave bends around obstacles or openings and spreads out. It occurs with various types of waves, such as sound, light, and water waves, and is a result of the wave interacting with the edges of obstacles or openings.


What are magnetic stripes on the seafloor?

Magnetic stripes on the seafloor are alternating bands of magnetized rock that form parallel to mid-ocean ridges. These stripes are a result of Earth's magnetic field changing direction over time and getting preserved in the rocks as they cool and solidify. They provide evidence for seafloor spreading and plate tectonics.


How are ocean-floor rocks and sediments evidence of seafloor spreading?

Ocean-floor rocks near mid-ocean ridges show a symmetrical pattern of magnetized stripes parallel to the ridge axis. These stripes result from periodic reversals in Earth's magnetic field and provide evidence of seafloor spreading. Sediments on the ocean floor also show younger ages near the ridges, supporting the idea of seafloor spreading.