id really appreciate if you answered this ASAP!
2006-11-09 07:25:24 · 6 answers · asked by angie s 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
A mid ocean ridge is an area where new sea floor is created throught the divergent (speading) motion of the tectonmic plates in that area. At mid ocean ridges, fractures from the pulling allow small amounts of magma to squeeze in and push the plates that much more.
It comes down to density. The center of the ridge is high, because it it new (just formed) and hot. The edges are low because it is old and cold. There are two main theories on the cause: slab pull and ridge push.
Ridge push is the classic idea that the ridge is a high point of a convection current, pushing the plates aside and allowing new mantle material to rise up and fill the hole.
Slab pull is the new idea that the subducting end of the plate, that is really old and dense, pulls on the entire plate as it subducts, and thus pulls apart itself in places, causing a hole which is then filled by rising material, forming the ridge.
It's kinda a chicken/egg thing, so we may never be able to rule one or the other out.
2006-11-09 07:44:11 · answer #1 · answered by QFL 24-7 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
New crust is being formed where the plates of the earth surface meet I.E around the pacific ocean. Also the hawiian islands have new crust being formed since the crust is just a top layer on top of flowing magma so when the crust has openings in it the magma will move up the openings
2006-11-09 07:36:34 · answer #2 · answered by gordon_benbow 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
at mid ocean ridges, hot lava is pushed up and when it hits the cold water it becomes solid. This pushes out the crust and the new crust takes its place. Then the process starts over again.
2006-11-09 07:42:36 · answer #3 · answered by horslover10 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
On the fault lines in the ocean volcanic lava from earths core flows through the cracks at the fault. The water then cools the lava and current ditributes it.
2006-11-09 07:31:51 · answer #4 · answered by lilgary_13 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
At the mid ocean ridges.
At a seam of two plates, magma pushes up, solidifies and in the process pushes the plates in opposite directions (at right angles to) from the seam
2006-11-09 07:29:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
NEW CRUST IS BEING FORMED ALONG MID-OCEAN RIDGES
2015-04-10 12:30:58 · answer #6 · answered by tiara 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋