How does seafloor spreading account for the age of the sea floor?
How does seafloor spreading account for the age of the seafloor? New, young sea floor is continually being formed by basalt eruptions at the ridge crest. Thus, old sea floor is continually being destroyed at trenches, while new sea floor is being formed at the ridge crest.
What is the evidence for seafloor spreading?
The study of the repeated reversal of the Earth’s magnetic poles over time has provided convincing evidence of seafloor spreading. Objective: To explore how magnetic studies and age information provide evidence for seafloor spreading that explains why oceanic crust is younger than continental crust.
How does the age of the seafloor change?
Scientists can determine the age of the seafloor by examining the changing magnetic field of our planet. While it cools down, it records the magnetic field during its formation. The two parts of the oceanic plate are pulled apart, and magnetic stripes become older as they move away from the mid-ocean ridge.
What is the first step of seafloor spreading?
The first step in the seafloor spreading comes in the form of cracking up of the oceanic crust. The convection currents manage to push huge amounts of magma under very high pressure and the crust breaks up.
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.
Which ocean is growing the fastest?
The oceanic crust is moving away from the East Pacific Rise to either side. Near Easter Island the rate is over 150 mm (6 in) per year which is the fastest in the world.
Where is the youngest ocean floor?
mid-ocean ridge
Where is the ocean floor the oldest?
eastern Mediterranean Sea
Which is the deepest part of the world?
The Mariana Trench