Seafloor Spreading

Explorer Ridge

NOAA/OER: Public Domain

Would you believe that deep in the oceans exist vast mountain ranges? It's true! In fact, from these mountain ranges, or mid-ocean ridges, emerges new seafloor. As you'll learn in this topic, although scientists had long hypothesized about the formation of new crust, it would take a new type of technology to help them pinpoint the origin of this material.

Essential Questions

• What is seafloor spreading?
• How are the magnetic properties of rocks measured?
• How was seafloor spreading discovered?
• Where and how does new crust form?