Seafloor Spreading Definition Earth Science

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.

Seafloor spreading definition earth science.

Let s explore another idea called seafloor spreading. Sea floor spreading synonyms sea floor spreading pronunciation sea floor spreading translation english dictionary definition of sea floor spreading. Spreading centres are divided into several geologic zones. The neovolcanic zone is at the very axis.

Click here if you are a student at snowflake heber or holbrook to access the susd5 student version of seafloor spreading assignment. Adjacent to the neovolcanic zone is one marked by fissures in the seafloor. It is 1 to 2 km 0 6 to 1 2 miles wide and is the site of recent and active volcanism and of the hydrothermal vents it is marked by chains of small volcanoes or volcanic ridges. Seafloor spreading is the mechanism for wegener s drifting continents.

Convection currents within the mantle take the continents on a conveyor belt ride of oceanic crust that over millions of years takes them around the planet s surface. Mantle convection is the slow churning motion of earth s mantle. Seafloor spreading and other tectonic activity processes are the result of mantle convection. Geological science a series of processes in which new oceanic lithosphere is created at oceanic ridges spreads away from the ridges and returns to the earth s.

Seafloor spreading theory that oceanic crust forms along submarine mountain zones and spreads out laterally away from them. Purchase this seafloor spreading activity at teachers pay teachers for 1 50 cents. Convection currents carry heat from the lower mantle and core to the lithosphere. The mid ocean ridge is where the seafloor spreading occurs in which tectonic plates large slabs of earth s lithosphere split apart.

In this section we are going to take alfred wegener s thoughts a little further.