What does seafloor spreading mean?

Definitions for seafloor spreading
seafloor spread·ing

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word seafloor spreading.

Wiktionary

  1. seafloor spreadingnoun

    The outward movement of the seafloor from central underwater ridges as a result of plate tectonics; the major cause of continental drift.

Wikipedia

  1. Seafloor spreading

    Seafloor spreading or Seafloor spread is a process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge.

Wikidata

  1. Seafloor spreading

    Seafloor spreading is a process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge. Seafloor spreading helps explain continental drift in the theory of plate tectonics. When oceanic plates diverge, tensional stress causes fractures to occur in the lithosphere. Basaltic magma rises up the fractures and cools on the ocean floor to form new sea floor. Older rocks will be found further away from the spreading zone while younger rocks will be found nearer to the spreading zone. Earlier theories of continental drift were that continents "plowed" through the sea. The idea that the seafloor itself moves as it expands from a central axis was proposed by Harry Hess from Princeton University in the 1960s. The theory is well-accepted now, and the phenomenon is known to be caused by convection currents in the plastic, very weak upper mantle, or asthenosphere.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of seafloor spreading in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of seafloor spreading in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4


Translations for seafloor spreading

From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary

  • انتشار قاع البحرArabic
  • expansión del fondo marinoSpanish
  • expansion des fonds océaniquesFrench
  • havbunnspredningNorwegian
  • спрединга морского днаRussian
  • கடற்பரப்பு பரவுகிறதுTamil
  • 海底扩散Chinese

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"seafloor spreading." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/seafloor+spreading>.

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