Seafloor Spreading Definition Earth Science

Convection currents carry heat from the lower mantle and core to the lithosphere.

Seafloor spreading definition earth science.

Seafloor spreading and other tectonic activity processes are the result of mantle convection. Adjacent to the neovolcanic zone is one marked by fissures in the seafloor. Let s explore another idea called seafloor spreading. Mantle convection is the slow churning motion of earth s mantle.

Spreading centres are divided into several geologic zones. Seafloor spreading definition a process in which new ocean floor is created as molten material from the earth s mantle rises in margins between plates or ridges and spreads out. The neovolcanic zone is at the very axis. Click here if you are a student at snowflake heber or holbrook to access the susd5 student version of seafloor spreading assignment.

Geological science a series of processes in which new oceanic lithosphere is created at oceanic ridges spreads away from the ridges and returns to the earth s. Convection currents within the mantle take the continents on a conveyor belt ride of oceanic crust that over millions of years takes them around the planet s surface. Purchase this seafloor spreading activity at teachers pay teachers for 1 50 cents. 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.

In this section we are going to take alfred wegener s thoughts a little further. Convection currents also recycle lithospheric materials back to the mantle. Sea floor spreading synonyms sea floor spreading pronunciation sea floor spreading translation english dictionary definition of sea floor spreading. Seafloor spreading is a geologic process where 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.