In the oceans magnetic stripes are symmetrical about a mid ocean ridge axis.
Magnetic stripes on the ocean floor indicate what.
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.
The magnetic variation in successive bands of ocean floor parallel with mid ocean ridges is important evidence supporting the theory of seafloor spreading central to plate tectonics.
What could cause this.
When the earth s magnetic field reverses a new stripe with the new polarity begins.
These patterns of stripes provide the history of seafloor spreading.
The rock of the ocean floor contains iron.
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.
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.
Magnetic stripes scientists discovered that the rock that makes up the ocean floor lies in a pattern of magnetized stripes these stripes hold a record of reversals in earth s magnetic field.
Magnetic striping magnetic minerals are found in rocks.
When the rocks are in melted form these minerals will line up with earth s magnetic field.
At the mid ocean ridge spreading axis these flips in the direction of the earth s magnetic field are recorded in the magnetization of the lava.
This pattern of stripes could represent what scientists see on the seafloor.
This creates a symmetrical pattern of magnetic stripes of opposite polarity on either side of mid ocean ridges.
The figure below includes two images of the ocean floor.
Plate tectonics and reversals of the earth s magnetic field are responsible for the magnetic stripes found on the ocean floor.
Among the new findings was the discovery of zebra stripe like magnetic patterns for the rocks of the ocean floor.
Note that the stripes are symmetrical about the central dusky purple stripe.
Magnetic patterns develop on the sea floor as basaltic lava erupts and cools and iron rich minerals align with earth s magnetic field.
These two things were the magnetic striping on the ocean floor and the age of seafloor rocks.
These patterns were unlike any seen for continental rocks.
