Definition Of Sea Floor Spreading In Science

What does seafloor spreading mean.

Definition of sea floor spreading in science. Spreading rate is the rate at which an ocean basin widens due to seafloor spreading. 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. 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 and other tectonic activity processes are the result of mantle convection. Convection currents carry heat from the lower mantle and core to the lithosphere. Spreading rates determine if the ridge is fast intermediate or slow. 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. Meaning of seafloor spreading. 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.

Seafloor spreading is the mechanism for wegener s drifting continents. Sea floor spreading synonyms sea floor spreading pronunciation sea floor spreading translation english dictionary definition of sea floor spreading. 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.