Definition Of Sea Floor Spreading In Science

What does seafloor spreading mean.

Definition of sea floor spreading in science.

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. Seafloor spreading is the mechanism for wegener s drifting continents. Spreading rate is the rate at which an ocean basin widens due to seafloor spreading. Seafloor spreading theory that oceanic crust forms along submarine mountain zones and spreads out laterally away from them.

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. Spreading rates determine if the ridge is fast intermediate or slow. Convection currents carry heat from the lower mantle and core to the lithosphere. 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.

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. Mantle convection is the slow churning motion of earth s mantle. The rate at which new oceanic lithosphere is added to each tectonic plate on either side of a mid ocean ridge is the spreading half rate and is equal to half of the spreading rate. Convection currents also recycle lithospheric materials back to the mantle.

Information and translations of seafloor spreading in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web. 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. 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.