What Is Seafloor Spreading Theory Upsc

Seafloor spreading proves that the ocean itself is a site of tectonic activity.

What is seafloor spreading theory upsc.

When oceanic plates diverge tensional stress causes fractures to occur in the lithosphere. Thus the midocean ridges contain the newest crust formed on the planet. Volcanic eruptions create new basaltic ocean floor that then spreads away laterally from the ridge. Seafloor spreading theory that oceanic crust forms along submarine mountain zones known collectively as the mid ocean ridge system and spreads out laterally away from them.

The theory of seafloor spreading seafloor spreading is a geologic process where there is a gradual addition of new oceanic crust in the ocean floor through a volcanic activity while moving the older rocks away from the mid oceanic ridge. Harry hess authored sea floor spreading theory to explain the distribution of continents and oceans. That is it explains why the age thickness and density of the oceanic crust increases with distance from the mid oceanic ridge. Hess argued constant eruptions at the crest of oceanic ridges ruptures the ocean crust and new lava wedges into it pushing the oceanic crust either side the ocean floor this spreads how it causes volcano n earth quake.

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 disproves an early part of the theory of continental drift. After the second world war the understanding of ocean floor significantly changed. Seafloor spreading helps explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics.

Keeping earth in shape. Known as seafloor spreading this theory stated that mid ocean ridges are formed by currents of magma rising up from the mantle. Supporters of continental drift originally theorize d that the continents moved drifted through unmoving oceans. Theory given by harry hess according to him sea floor spreading occurs in divergent plate boundaries i e.

Tectonic plates move away from each other due to thermal convective currents this leads to fractures and cracks in the earth s oceanic crust which is filled up with magma bubbling up from earth s mantle aesthenosphere. Sea floor spreading theory is important for the upsc prelim and main exam.