Seafloor Spreading Theory By Harry Hess

Harry hess published the history of ocean basins in 1962 outlining a theory of how tectonic plates can move which was later called sea floor spreading.

Seafloor spreading theory by harry hess.

The seafloor spreading hypothesis was proposed by the american geophysicist harry h. Harry hess 1906 1969 in his navy uniform as captain of the assault transport cape johnson during world war ii. Harry hess was right. The theory of seafloor spreading 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.

If spreading continues past the incipient stage described above two of the rift arms will open while the third arm stops opening and becomes a failed rift or aulacogen. Harry hess argues that the continents had once been one and have drifted apart. Seafloor spreading was proposed by an american geophysicist harry h. On the basis of tharp s efforts and other new discoveries about the deep ocean floor hess postulated that molten material from earth s mantle continuously wells up along the crests of the mid ocean ridges that wind for nearly 80 000 km.

He identified the presence of mid ocean ridges and that ocean trenches are where ocean floor is destroyed and recycled. After the war he remained active in the naval reserve reaching the rank of rear admiral. Hess theory was that new seafloor is formed when magma is forced upward toward the surface at a mid ocean ridge. And alfred wegener was.

With the discovery of plate tectonics and the mapping of the earth. Seafloor spreading had been proved.