What are magnetic stripes in sea floor spreading?
At the mid-ocean ridge spreading axis, these flips in the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field are recorded in the magnetization of the lava. This creates a symmetrical pattern of magnetic stripes of opposite polarity on either side of mid-ocean ridges.
Are there magnetic stripes on the ocean floor?
The magnetic stripes end abruptly at the edges of continents. Sometimes the stripes end at a deep sea trench (Figure below). Scientists found that magnetic polarity in the seafloor was normal at mid-ocean ridges but reversed in symmetrical patterns away from the ridge center.
How magnetic stripes in the ocean are formed?
How to form magnetic striping: new oceanic crust forms continuously at the mid-ocean ridges. While it cools down, it records the magnetic field during its formation. The two parts of the oceanic plate are pulled apart, and magnetic stripes become older as they move away from the mid-ocean ridge.
How are seafloor spreading and magnetic striping connected?
At spreading centres, this crust is separated into parallel bands of rock by successive waves of emergent magma. When Earth’s geomagnetic field undergoes a reversal, the change in polarity is recorded in the magma, which contributes to the alternating pattern of magnetic striping on the seafloor.
How are magnetic stripes near mid-ocean ridges evidence for seafloor spreading?
How do strips of magnetized rock on the ocean floor provide evidence of sea-floor spreading? Strips of ocean-floor basalt record the polarity of Earth’s magnetic field at the time the rock formed. These strips form a pattern that is the same on both sides of the mid-ocean ridge.
Why were magnetic patterns found on the ocean floor puzzling?
Why were magnetic patterns found on the ocean floor puzzling? They showed alternating bands of normal and reversed polarity. No rocks were magnetic. They did not show alternating bands of normal and reversed polarity.
What is the process of sea floor spreading?
Seafloor spreading occurs at divergent plate boundaries. As tectonic plates slowly move away from each other, heat from the mantle’s convection currents makes the crust more plastic and less dense. The less-dense material rises, often forming a mountain or elevated area of the seafloor. Eventually, the crust cracks.
How is the process of seafloor spreading explained?
What causes magnetic stripes on the seafloor quizlet?
Why does the rock of the ocean floor have a pattern of magnetic stripes? The rock of the ocean floor contains iron. As molten material cooled and hardenend, the iron bits inside lined up in the direction of Earth’s magnetic poles, creating a pattern of magnetized stripes.
What evidence was found by geophysicist about magnetic patterns found on the ocean floor?
Oceanographic exploration in the 1950s led to a much better understanding of the ocean floor. Among the new findings was the discovery of zebra stripe-like magnetic patterns for the rocks of the ocean floor. These patterns were unlike any seen for continental rocks.
What did scientists observe when they studied the magnetic fields of rocks on the sides of mid-ocean ridges?
What did scientists observe when they studied the magnetic fields of rocks on the sides of mid-ocean ridges? there were “STRIPES” of normal and reversed magnetic fields on both sides of the ridge.
How does the ocean floor keep track of magnetic fields?
These changes in strength and direction of the Earth’s magnetic field are recorded in the volcanic rocks beneath the seafloor. When hot lava erupts on the ocean floor and cools it not only crystallizes, but it also becomes magnetic. This is because the magma that seeps from the Earth’s mantle has a lot of iron in it.