Magnetic Ocean Floor Patterns

As tectonic plates move apart new rock is formed and locks in the direction of the magnetic field at the time timing.

Magnetic ocean floor patterns.

Mapping of variation over an area is valuable in detecting structures obscured by overlying material. Magnetic stripes and isotopic clocks oceanographic exploration in the 1950s led to a much better understanding of the ocean floor. Among the new findings was the discovery of zebra stripe like magnetic patterns for the rocks of the ocean floor. Ocean floor pattern plotting learning objectives.

This creates a symmetrical pattern of magnetic stripes of opposite polarity on either side of mid ocean ridges. The magnetic variation in successive bands of ocean floor parallel with mid ocean ridges is important evidence supporting the theory of. These patterns of stripes provide the history of seafloor spreading. The earth s magnetic field has flipped the n pole becoming the s pole and vice versa many times over geological time.

At the mid ocean ridge spreading axis these flips in the direction of the earth s magnetic field are recorded in the magnetization of the lava. These patterns were unlike any seen for continental rocks. When the earth s magnetic field reverses a new stripe with the new polarity begins. Such magnetic patterns led to recognition of the occurrence of sea floor spreading and they remain some of the strongest evidence for the theory of plate tectonics.

The figure below includes two images of the ocean floor.