⏰ when
When was the first seafloor spreading hypothesis proposed?
Earth scienceOceanography
Quick Answer
In 1962, when Harry Hess proposed that new ocean crust forms at mid-ocean ridges and moves outward.
The Full Story
Harry Hess outlined the idea of seafloor spreading in a 1962 paper, building on observations from World War II-era oceanography. He suggested that magma rises at mid-ocean ridges, creates new crust, and pushes older crust away on both sides. This hypothesis helped explain features such as the symmetry of magnetic stripes on the ocean floor. It became one of the most important steps toward the modern theory of plate tectonics.
Key Facts
1.Proposed by Harry Hess in 1962
2.Explains creation of oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges
3.Helped explain magnetic striping on the seafloor
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The 1962 idea that made the ocean floor move"