What happens to the age of the lithosphere as you move further from the mid-ocean ridge?
Question
What happens to the age of the lithosphere as you move further from the mid-ocean ridge?
Solution
As you move further away from the mid-ocean ridge, the age of the lithosphere increases. Here's why:
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The mid-ocean ridge is a place where new lithosphere (the rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle) is being created. This process is known as seafloor spreading.
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Seafloor spreading occurs when magma rises from the mantle to the seafloor, cools and solidifies to form new lithosphere. This new lithosphere then moves away from the ridge due to tectonic forces.
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As the new lithosphere moves away from the ridge, more magma rises to the seafloor to form more new lithosphere. This means that the lithosphere that was previously formed gets pushed further away from the ridge.
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Therefore, the further away from the mid-ocean ridge you go, the older the lithosphere is. This is because it was formed earlier and has been pushed away from the ridge by the formation of newer lithosphere.
Similar Questions
he Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a 16,000-kilometer mountain chain that travels north to south along the Atlantic Ocean sea floor. It is estimated that it is spreading at a rate of 2–5 cm a year. Based on the evidence, write one letter in each blank to correctly complete the explanation for how the Atlantic Ocean will change over time. Over 1.__________ of years, the sea floor at the ridge will 2.__________ spreading, and the Atlantic Ocean will become a much 3.__________ area than it is today. 1. A. hundreds B. thousands C. millions 2. D. continue E. stop 3. F. smaller G. larger
Choose the best option for the blank.The age of oceanic crust ______ with distance from a mid-ocean ridge.Choose 1 answer:Choose 1 answer:(Choice A) increasesAincreases(Choice B) decreasesBdecreases(Choice C) stays the sameCstays the same
What is the lithosphere?
The cross section below represents the oceanic crust found on both sides of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Samples of crust were collected at points X, Y, and Z shown on the diagram.A number line is shown that goes from 80 km on the left to 80 km on the right with tick marks every 20 km. The origin at 0 is labeled Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The line is labeled Distance from ridge (km). There are 3 points marked on the line. Point X is about 45 units to the left of 0. Point Y is about 5 units to the right of 0. Point Z is about 75 units to the right of 0.Which sequence correctly lists the crust samples from youngest to oldest?Choose 1 answer:Choose 1 answer:(Choice A) Y X ZAY X Z(Choice B) Y Z XBY Z X(Choice C) Z X YCZ X Y(Choice D) Z Y XDZ Y XReport a problemStart over3 of 10Check
In the tectonic cycle, new but recycled lithosphere rises to the ground at boundaries and can be subducted at boundaries.
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