⏰ when
When was the global mid-ocean ridge system mapped in detail?
Earth scienceOceanography
Quick Answer
In the 1950s and 1960s, when sonar surveys revealed a connected mountain chain around most of the oceans.
The Full Story
As marine sonar mapping improved after World War II, scientists discovered that the ocean floor contains a continuous mountain chain thousands of kilometers long. By the 1950s and 1960s, these surveys showed a global mid-ocean ridge system encircling much of the planet. The mapping transformed geology by revealing that the seafloor is not flat and inactive. Instead, it is dynamic, with ridges marking zones where new crust is created.
Key Facts
1.Mapped extensively in the 1950s–1960s
2.Forms a global system about 60,000 km long
3.Ridges are sites of new ocean crust formation
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"The hidden mountain chain running through Earth’s oceans"