Seafloor spreading occurs
at divergent plate boundaries
. As tectonic plates slowly move away from each other, heat from the mantle’s convection currents makes the crust more plastic and less dense. The less-dense material rises, often forming a mountain or elevated area of the seafloor. Eventually, the crust cracks.
What are the 4 evidences of seafloor spreading?
Harry Hess’s hypothesis about seafloor spreading had collected several pieces of evidence to support the theory. This evidence was from the investigations of
the molten material, seafloor drilling, radiometric age dating and fossil ages, and the magnetic stripes
.
What are three evidences of seafloor spreading?
Harry Hess’s hypothesis about seafloor spreading had collected several pieces of evidence to support the theory. This evidence was from the investigations of
the molten material, seafloor drilling, radiometric age dating and fossil ages, and the magnetic stripes
.
How does continental drift and seafloor spreading cause the movement of tectonic plates?
Seafloor spreading helps explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics. … Plates that are not subducting are driven by
gravity sliding off the elevated mid-ocean ridges
a process called ridge push. At a spreading center, basaltic magma rises up the fractures and cools on the ocean floor to form new seabed.
What is seafloor spreading and why is it important?
Today it refers to the
processes creating new oceanic lithosphere
What happens when the seafloor spreads?
Seafloor spreading
What is the first step of seafloor spreading?
1.
A long crack in the oceanic crust forms at a mid ocean ridge
. 2. Molten material rises and erupts along the ridge.
What causes the tectonic plates to move?
The heat from radioactive processes within the planet’s interior
causes the plates to move, sometimes toward and sometimes away from each other. This movement is called plate motion, or tectonic shift.
Where is active seafloor spreading occurring today?
Where is active sea floor spreading occurring today? Seafloor spreading is the movement of old rock that is being pushed by the new young oceanic crust. This would be a divergent since the plates are separating from each other. Active seafloor spreading is occurring at
mid-ocean ridges
.
What is the importance of seafloor?
Today it refers to
the processes creating new oceanic lithosphere
What are the features of seafloor?
Features of the ocean include
the continental shelf, slope, and rise
. The ocean floor is called the abyssal plain
Who proved that the seafloor is spreading?
Harry Hess
What boundaries destroy seafloor?
At which type of boundary is seafloor destroyed? The seafloor is destroyed at
a COnvergent Boundary
.
What is the average speed of seafloor spreading?
The average speed of seafloor spreading is
approximately 5 centimeters a year
. This growth rate can be compared to the growth rate of human fingernails (Krupicka). The global ridge system consists of oceanic ridges. Seafloor spreading occurs at these elevated oceanic ridges and has high heat flow and volcanism.
What kind of activity causes seafloor spreading?
Volcanic activity
causes the seafloor to spread along oceanic ridges, forming new areas of crust and mantle. After being generated, this new oceanic lithosphere
What is the root cause of seafloor spreading?
Seafloor spreading occurs at divergent plate boundaries. As tectonic plates slowly move away from each other,
heat from the mantle’s convection currents
makes the crust more plastic and less dense. The less-dense material rises, often forming a mountain or elevated area of the seafloor.
