The Seafloor Spreading

Seafloor spreading is a part of plate tectonics.

The seafloor spreading.

Seafloor spreading is a geologic process in which tectonic plate s large slabs of earth s lithosphere split apart from each other. Seafloor spreading theory that oceanic crust forms along submarine mountain zones known collectively as the mid ocean ridge system and spreads out laterally away from them. Seafloor spreading as upwelling of magma continues the plates continue to diverge a process known as seafloor spreading. The motivating force for seafloor spreading ridges is tectonic plate slab pull at subduction zones rather than magma pressure although there is typically significant magma activity at spreading ridges.

Seafloor spreading is a constant geologic phenomenon and a primary driver of continental drift. Seafloor spreading is the mechanism for wegener s drifting continents. Seafloor spreading helps explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics. In this lesson you will learn about this important.

When oceanic plates diverge tensional stress causes fractures to occur in the lithosphere. This creates a three armed rift called a triple junction usually with each rift at a 120 angle to the rest. The process begins when the crust is heated from beneath by upwelling in the mantle sometimes called a mantle plume. 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.

What happens to old oceanic crust as new molten material rises from the mantle. Subduction takes place at. The new material splits apart the old material and pushes it outward from the ridge. Its discovery provided a mechanism for continental drift that alfred wegener could not explain.

The breakup of pangaea by seafloor spreading is seen in this animation. In sea floor spreading new crust is added at a. Seafloor spreading and other tectonic activity processes are the result of mantle convection. 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.

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 from each other.