What Is The Definition Of Sea Floor Spreading

Seafloor spreading theory that oceanic crust forms along submarine mountain zones and spreads out laterally away from them.

What is the definition of sea floor spreading. Seafloor spreading definition is the divergence at mid ocean ridges of the tectonic plates underlying the oceans that is due to upwelling from the earth s interior of magma which solidifies and adds to the spreading plates. In 1912 when alfred wegener proposed that the continents had once been joined together and had split apart the biggest weakness in his hypothesis was the. The oceanic crust is composed of rocks that move away from the ridge as new crust is being formed. The process by which the ocean floor sinks into the mantle.

Alexis benveniste cnn microsoft pulled its underwater data center out of the sea in scotland 14 sep. Definition of mid ocean ridge. Seafloor definition is seabed. Seafloor spreading is a process that occurs at mid ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge.

Seafloor spreading and other tectonic activity processes are the result of mantle convection. 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. Sea floor spreading synonyms sea floor spreading pronunciation sea floor spreading translation english dictionary definition of sea floor spreading. 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.

A chain of underwater mountains along which seafloor spreading occurs. Mantle convection is the slow churning motion of earth s mantle. The process of sea floor spreading. The mid ocean ridge is the region where new oceanic crust is created.

The formation of the new crust is due to the rising of the molten material magma from the mantle by convection current. Earlier theories by alfred wegener and alexander du toit of continental drift postulated that. Convection currents carry heat from the lower mantle and core to the lithosphere. In the theory of plate tectonics the process by which new oceanic crust is formed by the convective upwelling of magma at mid ocean ridges resulting in.

Convection currents also recycle lithospheric materials back to the mantle.