Magnetic Patterns On The Ocean Floor Were Puzzling Because They

It provided evidence of sea floor spreading.

Magnetic patterns on the ocean floor were puzzling because they.

Mapping of variation over an area is valuable in detecting structures obscured by overlying material. In geophysics a magnetic anomaly is a local variation in the earth s magnetic field resulting from variations in the chemistry or magnetism of the rocks. Oliver and bryan l. The study paleomagnetism was key in proving wegener s hypothesis because.

Tracks of continents plowing through the ocean floor rock. It helps them determine the frequency of. Showed alternating bands of normal and reversed polarity wegener s hypothesis of continental drift was finally confirmed by. The magnetic variation in successive bands of ocean floor parallel with mid ocean ridges is important evidence supporting the theory of.

When earth s geomagnetic field undergoes a reversal the change in polarity is recorded in the magma which contributes to the alternating pattern of magnetic striping on the seafloor. Studying the magnetic patterns of the rocks in the floor of the ocean helps scientists do what. Magnetic patterns on the ocean floor were puzzling because they. The seafloor was mapped by shipborne magnetometers in the 1950s and produced puzzling results sequential zones of normal and reverse magnetic polarity spreading out from the oceanic ridges.

Magnetic patterns on the ocean floor were puzzling because they. Magnetic patterns on the ocean floor were puzzling because they showed altering bands on of normal and reversed polarity wegeners hypothesis of continental drift was finally confirmed by. Magnetic patterns are symmetrical on each side of the mid ocean ridge which would indicate that the seafloor is spreading apart like the tectonic plate theory claims. Evidence that was discovered nearly 2 decades after his death.

Later theories showed that this was due to the reversing nature of earth s magnetic field. The earths magnetic polarity at the time of rock formation. The ocean floor is thus pushed at right angles and in opposite directions away from the crests. Why did scientists expect the ocean floor to have a thick layer of sediment.

By the late 1960s several american investigators among them jack e. At spreading centres this crust is separated into parallel bands of rock by successive waves of emergent magma.