Magnetic Anomaly Stripes On Ocean Floors

These two things were the magnetic striping on the ocean floor and the age of seafloor rocks.

Magnetic anomaly stripes on ocean floors.

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. They can be stronger positive or weaker negative than the average total read more. These patterns were unlike any seen for continental rocks. The magnetic variation in successive bands of ocean floor parallel with mid ocean ridges is important evidence supporting the theory of.

Over time the earth s magnetic field reverses its north. Marine magnetic anomalies typically represent 1 percent of the total geomagnetic field strength. Magnetic striping magnetic minerals are found in rocks. Xavier le pichon james r.

Plate tectonics and reversals of the earth s magnetic field are responsible for the magnetic stripes found on the ocean floor. When magma flows out of a mid ocean ridge small magnetic minerals in the magma align themselves to point in the direction of the earth s current magnetic north. A marine magnetic anomaly is a variation in strength of earth s magnetic field caused by magnetism in rocks of the ocean floor. Magnetic stripes and isotopic clocks oceanographic exploration in the 1950s led to a much better understanding of the ocean floor.

Magnetic striping of the sea floor after mid ocean ridges and trenches were discovered more evidence was discovered that helped to support the theory that the continents had moved around.