Magnetic striping of the sea floor after mid ocean ridges and trenches were discovered more evidence was discovered that helped to support the theory that the continents had moved around.
Magnetic striping of ocean floor.
Among the new findings was the discovery of zebra stripe like magnetic patterns for the rocks of the ocean floor.
Coast and geodetic survey ship pioneer in a joint project with the u s.
Plate tectonics and reversals of the earth s magnetic field are responsible for the magnetic stripes found on the ocean floor.
These patterns were unlike any seen for continental rocks.
Each strip therefore represents an epoch of one or the other magnetic polarity and the symmetry is also explained.
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.
The discovery of magnetic striping called for an explanation.
These two things were the magnetic striping on the ocean floor and the age of seafloor rocks.
Basalt the once molten rock that makes up most new oceanic crust is a fairly magnetic substance and scientists began using magnetometers to measure the magnetism of the ocean floor in the 1950s what they discovered was that the magnetism of the ocean floor around.
Magnetic stripes and isotopic clocks oceanographic exploration in the 1950s led to a much better understanding of the ocean floor.
Magnetic striping magnetic minerals are found in rocks.
This finding though unexpected.
Discovery of magnetic striping on ocean floor.
Magnetic evidence for seafloor spreading explains how magnetic polarity frozen into seafloor basalts reveals evidence for the creation of new seafloor at mid ocean ridges.
Magnetic striping and polar reversals beginning in the 1950s scientists using magnetic instruments magnetometers adapted from airborne devices developed during world war ii to detect submarines began recognizing odd magnetic variations across the ocean floor.
The magnetism of mid ocean ridges helped scientists first identify the process of seafloor spreading in the early 20th century.
The discovery adds a key element to the theory of plate tectonics.