2007-01-26 04:45:13 · 9 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The ocean floor of the Atlantic Ocean is the site of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which is a divergent boundary between tectonic plates. A divergent boundary means that the tectonic plates are moving away from each other. In this case, the North American and South American tectonic plates are moving away from the Eurasian and African tectonic plates. This creates a gap in the ocean floor through which magma seeps up and hardens to form new ocean floor (this process is called sea-floor spreading).
So as the North & South American continents drift farther from Europe and Africa, the Atlantic Ocean continues to grow year after year. Conversely, if you were to mentally "rewind" time, you'd notice that North & South America should be moving towards Europe and Africa until they join to become Pangaea, some ~250 million years ago.
2007-01-26 04:57:18 · answer #1 · answered by ybdogsct 2 · 5⤊ 0⤋
The first response is the correct one...melting ice and global warming have nothing to do with the Atlantic spreading...if that was indeed the case, then what would account for the Pacific getting smaller? It's plate tectonics and the Earth's magnetic polarity helps to determine the age and rate of which it is spreading
2007-01-26 05:31:26 · answer #2 · answered by town_cl0wn 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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RE:
why is the atlantic ocean expanding?
2015-08-08 11:25:26 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
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The polar ice caps are melting so causing the water to rise causing the ocean to expand.
2016-04-01 05:19:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not only is there increased flow of water into the ocean from melting glaciers, but as the water itself warms, it expands. This is part of a natural cycle of warming and cooling that has taken place for millions of years.....Ice age, warm period and on and on. Don't get too excited about the "Global Warming" that is all over the media. Remember, if Hollywood is for it, you should be against it. Its all part of a huge and complicated political agenda. Don't get sucked into that.
2007-01-26 04:57:19 · answer #5 · answered by badabingbob 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Because climate change causes ice caps to melt causing the sea to fill up more and more. Damn 19 seconds between me and the other dude.
2016-03-18 12:24:28 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tectonic plates up welling
2007-01-28 14:09:14 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
due to the therory on land shifting, New York drifts one inch away from england every year!
2007-01-26 11:36:50 · answer #8 · answered by Moochie Bean! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Due to global warming and the polar caps and glaciers melting.
2007-01-26 05:00:04 · answer #9 · answered by Lok1220 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋