How do magnetic anomaly patterns on the ocean floor best serve as evidence for seafloor spreading?
A) The symmetry on either side of mid-ocean ridges shows that new crust is created and then split apart.
B) Their patterns prove that the Earth's magnetic field reverses every few hundred years.
C) They show that island arc volcanism creates new oceanic crust at the mid-ocean ridges.
D) The symmetry on either side of mid-ocean ridges shows that transform boundaries are sliding boundaries.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Magnetic anomaly patterns on the ocean floor provide evidence for seafloor spreading because the symmetry of the magnetic anomalies on either side of mid-ocean ridges shows that new crust is created and then split apart. As magma rises to the surface at the ridges and solidifies, it traps the current orientation of the Earth's magnetic field. As the crust moves away from the ridge, new magnetic orientations are added, creating a pattern of symmetric magnetic stripes on either side of the ridge. This pattern provides evidence for the continuous creation of new oceanic crust at the ridges and the spreading of the seafloor.

How Do Magnetic Anomaly Patterns on the Ocean Floor Best