What did scientists observe in the ocean floor which indicates that the Pacific Ocean is becoming smalle
O subduction
O plates floating on the mantle
O spreading
O continental drift
WRONG! the correct answer is subduction
Scientists observed spreading in the ocean floor, which indicates that the Pacific Ocean is becoming smaller.
Scientists observed spreading in the ocean floor, which indicates that the Pacific Ocean is becoming smaller.
Explanation:
To understand this, we need to look into plate tectonics, which is the scientific theory that explains how the Earth's outer shell, called the lithosphere, is divided into several large and small pieces known as tectonic plates.
Spreading occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed as molten material rises from below and solidifies, pushing the existing oceanic crust away. This process is known as seafloor spreading.
In the case of the Pacific Ocean, scientists have observed that the oceanic crust is spreading apart at the mid-oceanic ridges in the Pacific, such as the East Pacific Rise. As new crust forms and spreads, it pushes the existing crust on either side of the ridge away from each other.
When the crust is pushed away, it creates a gap between the two plates. As a result, the area between the plates gradually becomes wider, leading to the shrinking of the Pacific Ocean. This spreading process contributes to the overall movement of tectonic plates and is a key aspect of the theory of plate tectonics.
Thus, the observation of spreading in the ocean floor indicates that the Pacific Ocean is becoming smaller.