Seafloor spreading is a process where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges, due to upwelling of magma from the mantle, and the older crust moves away from the ridge over time. Harry Hess proposed the theory of seafloor spreading to explain the evidence from investigations of molten material near ridges, seafloor drilling showing younger crust near ridges, radiometric dating showing ocean crust is younger than continental crust, and patterns of magnetic stripes in ocean crust. Seafloor spreading leads to renewal of the ocean floor approximately every 200 million years.
Seafloor spreading is a process where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges, due to upwelling of magma from the mantle, and the older crust moves away from the ridge over time. Harry Hess proposed the theory of seafloor spreading to explain the evidence from investigations of molten material near ridges, seafloor drilling showing younger crust near ridges, radiometric dating showing ocean crust is younger than continental crust, and patterns of magnetic stripes in ocean crust. Seafloor spreading leads to renewal of the ocean floor approximately every 200 million years.
Seafloor spreading is a process where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges, due to upwelling of magma from the mantle, and the older crust moves away from the ridge over time. Harry Hess proposed the theory of seafloor spreading to explain the evidence from investigations of molten material near ridges, seafloor drilling showing younger crust near ridges, radiometric dating showing ocean crust is younger than continental crust, and patterns of magnetic stripes in ocean crust. Seafloor spreading leads to renewal of the ocean floor approximately every 200 million years.
there is a gradual addition of new oceanic crust in the ocean floor through a volcanic activity while moving the older rocks away from the mid-oceanic ridge. The mid-ocean ridge is where the seafloor spreading occurs, in which tectonic plates—large slabs of Earth’s lithosphere—split apart from each other. The theory of seafloor spreading is made by Harry Hess The Process of Sea Floor Spreading The mid-ocean ridge is the region where new oceanic crust is created. The oceanic crust is composed of rocks that move away from the ridge as new crust is being formed. The formation of the new crust is due to the rising of the molten material (magma) from the mantle by convection current. When the molten magma reaches the oceanic crust, it cools and pushes away the existing rocks from the ridge equally in both directions A younger oceanic crust is then formed, causing the spread of the ocean floor. The new rock is dense but not as dense as the old rock that moves away from the ridge. As the rock moves, further, it becomes colder and denser until it reaches an ocean trench or continues spreading. It is believed that the successive movement of the rocks from the ridge progressively increases the ocean depth and have greater depths in the ocean trenches. Seafloor spreading leads to the renewal of the ocean floor in every 200 million years, a period of time for building a mid- ocean ridge, moving away across the ocean and subduction into a trench. Evidence of Sea Floor 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. This evidence however was also used to support the Theory of Continental drift. Evidence 1. Molten material 2. Seafloor drill 3. Radiometric age dating and fossil ages 4. Magnetic stripes 1.Hess’s discovery on the warmer temperature near the mid-Atlantic ridge when he began the ocean mapping, led to his evidence about the molten material underneath the ocean. The condition on the mid-oceanic ridge was substantially different from other surfaces away from the region because of the warmer temperature. He described that the molten magma from the mantle arose due to the convection currents in the interior of the earth. 2.This means that the magma that leaks from the ridge pushes the old rocks away and as they increasingly become distant, they more likely become older, denser, and thicker. On the other hand, the newest, thinnest crust is located near the center of the mid-ocean ridge, the actual site of seafloor spreading. 3.By the use of radiometric age dating and studying fossil ages, it was also found out the rocks of the sea floor age is younger than the continental rocks. It is believed that continental rocks formed 3 billion years ago,. It is a clear evidence that the formation of rocks in the sea floor is due to reabsorption of materials. 4.The magnetic survey was conducted in the Mid-ocean ridge in order to investigate evidence of sea-floor spreading. The minerals contained in the rocks are oriented opposite to the magnetic field. The patterns of the magnetic field will then be compared to the rocks to determine its approximate ages. Quiz 1.What is Seafloor spreading ? 2.Who made the theory about Seafloor Spreading ? 3.The formation of the new crust is due to the rising of what ? 4-7. Give the 4 evidence of seafloor spreading 8.How many years does it take for building mid ocean Rindge ?