SeafloorSpreading

Seafloor spreading is a geological process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity. This process is a key component of the theory of plate tectonics. Magma, or molten rock, rises from the Earth's mantle to the seafloor and erupts. As this magma cools and solidifies, it forms new igneous rock, primarily basalt. This newly formed crust then moves away from the mid-ocean ridge in both directions, pushed by the continuous upwelling of more magma. This outward movement is what creates and widens the ocean basins. Evidence supporting seafloor spreading includes the symmetrical magnetic striping found on either side of mid-ocean ridges, which reflects the Earth's changing magnetic field over time, and the decreasing age of the seafloor crust as one moves closer to the ridges. The process is a fundamental mechanism for the recycling of the Earth's crust and plays a significant role in shaping the planet's surface.