Which is responsible for the formation of mid-ocean ridges?(1 point)
The process of seafloor spreading is responsible for the formation of mid-ocean ridges.
Fossils of the same life form species have been found on continents that are now divided by oceans. In one to two sentences, explain how this could be possible if a supercontinent did not exist.(2 points)
If a supercontinent did not exist, it is most likely that the fossils of the same life form species found on currently separated continents could be attributed to the migration of organisms across land bridges or through various means of dispersal such as wind or water currents.
The process responsible for the formation of mid-ocean ridges is called seafloor spreading.
The process responsible for the formation of mid-ocean ridges is called seafloor spreading. To understand this process, let's break it down step by step:
1. Magma Generation: Mid-ocean ridges are formed at divergent plate boundaries, where tectonic plates move apart from each other. As the plates separate, molten rock called magma rises up from the underlying mantle.
2. Magma Upwelling: The rising magma is less dense than the surrounding rock, so it creates pressure and starts to push its way up through cracks and fractures in the Earth's crust.
3. Crustal Rifting: As the magma reaches the surface, it flows out to create a new crust along the divergent boundary. This process is known as crustal rifting. The new crust formed on either side of the ridge spreads outward, away from the ridge axis.
4. Cooling and Solidification: Once the molten magma reaches the cold seawater, it rapidly cools and solidifies, creating new oceanic crust. This process is continuous, with new magma continuously welling up and forming new crust along the entire length of the mid-ocean ridge.
So, in summary, it is the process of seafloor spreading, driven by the upwelling of magma and the continuous creation of new oceanic crust, that is responsible for the formation of mid-ocean ridges.