Sea Floor Spreading Definition Geology

In the theory of plate tectonics the process by which new oceanic crust is formed by the convective upwelling of magma at mid ocean ridges resulting in.

Sea floor spreading definition geology.

Subduction and sea floor spreading are processes that could alter the size and form of the ocean. Due to this continuous seafloor spreading occurs and makes atlantic ocean floor to be connected to other continental crust making the ocean gets wider over the time. The mid atlantic ridge for instance separates the north american plate from the eurasian plate and the south american plate from the african plate the east pacific rise is a mid ocean ridge that runs through the eastern pacific ocean and separates the pacific plate from the north american. Sea floor spreading synonyms sea floor spreading pronunciation sea floor spreading translation english dictionary definition of sea floor spreading.

Seafloor spreading occurs along mid ocean ridges large mountain ranges rising from the ocean floor. The neovolcanic zone is at the very axis. The ocean plates spread and grow in opposite directions so rocks that are equidistance from the center have the same magnetic polarity and age. Hess its major tenets gave great support to the theory of continental drift continental drift geological theory that the relative positions of the continents on the earth s surface have.

It is 1 to 2 km 0 6 to 1 2 miles wide and is the site of recent and active volcanism and of the hydrothermal vents it is marked by chains of small volcanoes or volcanic ridges. Seafloor spreading theory of lithospheric evolution that holds that the ocean floors are spreading outward from vast underwater ridges. Spreading centres are divided into several geologic zones. As the magma and lava cool at seafloor spreading centers whatever magnetic field is present get ingrained into the rock.

Spreading rate is the rate at which an ocean basin widens due to seafloor spreading. This idea played a pivotal role in the development of the theory of plate tectonics which revolutionized geologic thought during the last quarter of the 20th century. Depth below seafloor is a vertical coordinate used in geology paleontology oceanography and petrology see ocean drilling. Every so often it has occurred over 170 times over the past 100 million years the poles will suddenly switch.

For instance the atlantic ocean is believed to be expanding because of its few trenches. Spreading rates determine if the ridge is fast intermediate or slow. First proposed in the early 1960s by the american geologist harry h. The acronym mbsf meaning meters below the seafloor is a common convention used for depths below the seafloor.