Magnetic Evidence for Seafloor Spreading

Magnetic Evidence for Seafloor Spreading

One of the strongest pieces of evidence for seafloor spreading comes from magnetic patterns recorded in oceanic rocks. Earth’s magnetic field has flipped many times, meaning the north and south magnetic poles have switched places. When molten rock cools and solidifies at mid-ocean r...

During naval missions, scientists used warships equipped with magnetometers to detect submarines and discovered strange magnetic patterns on the seafloor.

These patterns appeared as symmetrical stripes of alternating magnetic polarity on either side of mid-ocean ridges.

Scientists found that Earth's magnetic field had reversed multip...