Definition Of Sea Floor Spreading In Science

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.

Definition of sea floor spreading in science.

What does seafloor spreading mean. Meaning of seafloor spreading. Seafloor spreading and other tectonic activity processes are the result of mantle convection. Mantle convection is the slow churning motion of earth s mantle.

Sea floor spreading synonyms sea floor spreading pronunciation sea floor spreading translation english dictionary definition of sea floor spreading. Spreading rates determine if the ridge is fast intermediate or slow. Convection currents carry heat from the lower mantle and core to the lithosphere. 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.

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. Seafloor spreading is the mechanism for wegener s drifting continents. 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. 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. 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. 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.