- Definition: Seafloor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust forms at mid-ocean ridges and spreads outward.
- The process involves magma rising from the mantle to create new crust, pushing older crust aside.
- This process is integral to the theory of plate tectonics, explaining geological phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.
- It occurs predominantly along divergent plate boundaries, where plates move apart.
- It was first proposed by Harry Hess in the early 1960s as part of the theory of plate tectonics.
- Convection-Driven: The process is driven by convection currents within the Earth’s mantle.
- Ocean Floor Expansion: Seafloor spreading contributes to the expansion of the ocean floor.
- Magnetic Records: Researchers study magnetic records in oceanic crust rocks to understand its formation.
- Sea floor spreading contributes to the widening of oceans and the movement of continents over millions of years.
- Subduction Zones: Seafloor is destroyed at subduction zones where oceanic crust sinks beneath continents.
- The rate of sea floor spreading varies, with the fastest rates occurring in the East Pacific Rise, a major seafloor spreading site in the Ring of Fire.
- Supercontinent Breakup: As Pangea broke apart, new ocean basins formed, driving seafloor spreading.
- Continental Resistance: Growing mountains on continents can slow down seafloor spreading.
- Sea floor spreading plays a crucial role in oceanic circulation patterns and the distribution of marine life.
