What Is Seafloor Spreading Theory

Seafloor spreading helps to explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics.

What is seafloor spreading theory.

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. Explanation of seafloor spreading theory. Most but not all earthquakes in this planar dipping zone result from compression and the seismic activity extends 300 to 700 km 200 to 400 miles below the surface implying that the subducted crust retains some rigidity to this depth at greater depths the subducted plate is partially recycled into the mantle. Geologists were aware that the north south magnetic polarity of the earth s magnetic.

The highly dense oceanic crust that is formed after a progressive spreading is destined to two possible occurrences. Our mission is to liberate knowledge. Theory of lithospheric evolution that holds that the ocean floors are spreading outward from vast underwater ridges. When oceanic plates diverge tensional stress causes fractures to occur in the lithosphere.

When igneous rocks like basalt crystallize the iron atoms in them align with the magnetic field of the earth. Seafloor spreading theory that oceanic crust forms along submarine mountain zones and spreads out laterally away from them. Seafloor spreading and magnetic striping rising. The theory of plate tectonics revolutionized the earth sciences by explaining how the movement of geologic plates causes mountain building volcanoes and earthquakes.

Find out information about seafloor spreading theory. It can either be subducted into the ocean deep trench or continue to spread across the ocean until it reaches a coast. Reconstruction of the map of the world according to drift theory for three epochs the upper one is the upper carboniferous the middle one is for the eocene and the lower one is for the lower quaternary. Seafloor spreading is a geologic process in which tectonic plates large slabs of earth s lithosphere split.

First proposed in the early 1960s by. Upsc geography sea floor spreading theory. Looking for seafloor spreading theory.