Seafloor Spreading Explained

This video goes over the process of sea floor spreading and the evidence that supports this theory.

Seafloor spreading explained.

Seafloor spreading is a constant geologic phenomenon and a primary driver of continental drift. Free background music no copyright music brvtvs dead times freebackgroundmusic webs. Seafloor spreading and other tectonic activity processes are the result of mantle convection. Mantle convection is the slow churning motion of earth s mantle.

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. The formation of the new crust is due to the rising of the molten material magma from the mantle by convection current.

Seafloor spreading helps to explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics. 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. The motivating force for seafloor spreading ridges is tectonic plate slab pull at subduction zones rather than magma pressure although there is typically. The seafloor moves and carries continents with it.

These age data also allow the rate of seafloor spreading to be determined and they show that rates. 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. The oceanic crust is composed of rocks that move away from the ridge as new crust is being formed.

Seafloor spreading happens at the bottom of an ocean as tectonic plates move apart. Convection currents also recycle lithospheric materials back to the mantle. Learn more about sea floor spreading and how it works with this demo. The mid ocean ridge is the region where new oceanic crust is created.

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. When oceanic plates diverge tensional stress causes fractures to occur in the lithosphere. Its discovery provided a mechanism for continental drift that alfred wegener could not explain.