Seafloor Spreading Explained

Mantle convection is the slow churning motion of earth s mantle.

Seafloor spreading explained.

The process begins when the crust is heated from beneath by upwelling in the mantle sometimes called a mantle plume. The motivating force for seafloor spreading ridges is tectonic plate pull rather than magma pressure although there is typically significant magma activity at spreading ridges. The formation of the new crust is due to the rising of the molten material magma from the mantle by convection current. These age data also allow the rate of seafloor spreading to be determined and they show that rates.

Convection currents also recycle lithospheric materials back to the mantle. As upwelling of magma continues the plates continue to diverge a process known as seafloor spreading samples collected from the ocean floor show that the age of oceanic crust increases with distance from the spreading centre important evidence in favour of this process. Seafloor spreading theory that oceanic crust forms along submarine mountain zones and spreads out laterally away from them. Seafloor spreading happens at the bottom of an ocean as tectonic plates move apart.

The mid ocean ridge is the region where new oceanic crust is created. This video goes over the process of sea floor spreading and the evidence that supports this theory. The seafloor moves and carries continents with it. Learn more about sea floor spreading and how it works with this demo.

This creates a three armed rift called a triple junction usually with each rift at a. 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. Free background music no copyright music brvtvs dead times freebackgroundmusic webs. When oceanic plates diverge tensional stress causes fractures to occur in the lithosphere.

The oceanic crust is composed of rocks that move away from the ridge as new crust is being formed. Its discovery provided a mechanism for continental drift that alfred wegener could not explain. Seafloor spreading helps to explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics. Seafloor spreading and other tectonic activity processes are the result of mantle convection.

The process of sea floor spreading. Seafloor spreading is a part of plate tectonics. Convection currents carry heat from the lower mantle and core to the lithosphere.