What does paleomagnetism do to continental drift?
Paleomagnetism is the study of the ancient magnetic field of both rocks and the Earth as a whole. Paleomagnetism has provided very strong quantitative evidence for polar wander and continental drift. This magnetism is caused by the alignment of the magnetic field of the magnetic minerals within a rock.
How does paleomagnetism support the theory of plate tectonics?
Paleomagnetism also provides evidence to support theories in plate tectonics. Because the ocean floor is mostly composed of basalt, an iron-rich substance containing minerals that align with the magnetic field, they record the alignment of the magnetic fields surrounding oceanic ridges.
What did paleomagnetic evidence prove?
The paleomagnetic evidence revealed that the magnetic poles also had different locations relative to the continents than they do today. Magnetic minerals on one continent do not point to the same pole position as do those from the same time period on another continent.
How does Wegener’s theory of continental drift support plate tectonic theory?
Alfred Wegener in Greenland. Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth’s land masses are in constant motion. Wegener observed that the continents of South America and Africa looked like they would fit together remarkably well—take away the Atlantic Ocean and these two massive landforms would lock neatly together.
What is the theory of plate tectonics Class 9?
Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth’s outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle, the rocky inner layer above the core. The plates act like a hard and rigid shell compared to Earth’s mantle. This strong outer layer is called the lithosphere.
What are three causes of plate movement?
In this lesson, we explore the causes of plate movement, including thermal convection, ridge push and slab pull.
What happens when two tectonic plates collide?
If two tectonic plates collide, they form a convergent plate boundary. Usually, one of the converging plates will move beneath the other, a process known as subduction. The new magma (molten rock) rises and may erupt violently to form volcanoes, often building arcs of islands along the convergent boundary.