When seafloor lava solidifies at the seafloor its magnetic crystals are quenched in alignment with earth s magnetic field and the rocks magnetic polarity is preserved.
Sea floor magnetism.
In the mid 1960s evidence of magnetic stripes on the seafloor convinced the geologic community of the validity of plate tectonics theory and it is often pointed to today as clinching evidence for the theory.
The earth s magnetic field the earth s magnetic field is thought to arise from the movement of liquid iron in the outer core as the planet rotates.
The magnetometers also revealed a lot about the magnetic properties of the seafloor.
But earth s magnetic field has reversed many times over the planet s history with the.
Seafloor lavas have built in magnetic clocks that reveal their age.
Warships also carried magnetometers.
Like the echo sounders the magnetometers were used to search for submarines.
The magnetic stripes continue across the seafloor.
Looking at the magnetism of the seafloor scientists discovered something astonishing.
The magnetism of mid ocean ridges helped scientists first identify the process of seafloor spreading in the early 20th century.
The field behaves as if a permanent magnet were located near the center of the earth.
As oceanic crust forms and spreads moving away from the ridge crest it pushes the continent away from the ridge axis.