Continental Drift and Seafloor Spreading Flashcard

Front

What is the process by which new ocean crust forms?

Back

Seafloor spreading.

Front

What evidence did Wegener use to support his hypothesis of Continental Drift?

Back

The fit of the continents.

Front

Why did most geologists reject Wegener's idea of Continental Drift?

Back

He couldn't identify what would cause continents to move around.

Front

Where is the oldest seafloor located?

Back

Farthest from the mid-ocean ridge.

Front

What does the theory of continental drift state?

Back

The continents were once joined in a super-continent and have moved over time.

Front

What geological feature is formed at mid-ocean ridges?

Back

New oceanic crust.

Front

What is the significance of the fit of the continents in the context of Continental Drift?

Back

It suggests that continents were once connected and have since drifted apart.

Front

What is the role of tectonic plates in seafloor spreading?

Back

Tectonic plates move apart at mid-ocean ridges, allowing magma to rise and form new crust.

Front

What is the evidence for seafloor spreading?

Back

Magnetic striping on the ocean floor and age of the seafloor.

Front

What is the relationship between continental drift and plate tectonics?

Back

Continental drift is a part of the broader theory of plate tectonics, which explains the movement of Earth's lithosphere.