Why Were Magnetic Patterns Found On The Ocean Floor Puzzling

They did not show alternating bands of normal and reversed polarity.

Why were magnetic patterns found on the ocean floor puzzling.

They showed alternating bands of normal and reversed polarity. Over time the earth s magnetic field reverses its north to south polarity and the magnetic minerals point in the opposite direction creating a striped pattern. Tracks of continents plowing through the ocean floor rock. Sea floor spreading adds new material to the ocean floor.

Magnetic patterns on the ocean floor were puzzling because they. Such magnetic patterns led to recognition of the occurrence of sea floor spreading and they remain some of the strongest evidence for the theory of plate tectonics. Why were magnetic patterns found on the ocean floor puzzling. Plate tectonics and reversals of the earth s magnetic field are responsible for the magnetic stripes found on the ocean floor.

Why were magnetic patterns on the ocean floor puzzling. The figure below includes two images of the ocean floor. When the earth s magnetic field reverses a new stripe with the new polarity begins. When magma flows out of a mid ocean ridge small magnetic minerals in the magma align themselves to point in the direction of the earth s current magnetic north.

These patterns were unlike any seen for continental rocks. Why were magnetic patterns found on the ocean floor puzzling. Evidence that was discovered nearly 2 decades after his death. Because they showed alternating bands of normal and reversed polarity.

What finally confirmed wegener s hypothesis of continental drift. Magnetic patterns on the ocean floor were puzzling because they showed altering bands on of normal and reversed polarity wegeners hypothesis of continental drift was finally confirmed by. The himalayan mountains were formed in a collision at. Magnetic stripes and isotopic clocks 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. The magnetic patterns were a mirror image of each side of the ridge.