What Is Seafloor Spreading Theory Upsc

Supporters of continental drift originally theorize d that the continents moved drifted through unmoving oceans.

What is seafloor spreading theory upsc.

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. Known as seafloor spreading this theory stated that mid ocean ridges are formed by currents of magma rising up from the mantle. 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. 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. After the second world war the understanding of ocean floor significantly changed. The theory of sea floor spreading states that new oceanic crust is being formed continuously at mid oceanic ridges while the older rocks move away from the ridge. Keeping earth in shape.

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. Cold seawater cools and solidifies this magma to form new. Seafloor spreading disproves an early part of the theory of continental drift. It opened up a whole new paradigm for the study of geomorphology.

Seafloor spreading proves that the ocean itself is a site of tectonic activity. Sea floor spreading theory is important for the upsc prelim and main exam. When oceanic plates diverge tensional stress causes fractures to occur in the lithosphere. Theory given by harry hess according to him sea floor spreading occurs in divergent plate boundaries i e.

Seafloor spreading helps explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics. Thus the midocean ridges contain the newest crust formed on the planet.