What did scientists observe in the ocean floor which indicates that the Pacific Ocean is becoming smaller?(1 point) Responses plates floating on the mantle plates floating on the mantle spreading spreading subduction subduction continental drift
Scientists observed spreading and subduction on the ocean floor, which indicates that the Pacific Ocean is becoming smaller.
Scientists observed the process of spreading at the ocean floor, which indicates that the Pacific Ocean is becoming smaller.
To understand why scientists believe that the Pacific Ocean is becoming smaller, we need to look into the concept of plate tectonics.
Plate tectonics is the theory that explains the movement of the Earth's lithospheric plates. These plates, which make up the Earth's outer shell, are constantly moving and interacting with each other. There are three main types of plate movements: spreading, subduction, and lateral movement.
In the case of the Pacific Ocean, scientists have observed evidence of spreading and subduction. Spreading occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new crust is formed as two plates move away from each other. Subduction, on the other hand, occurs when one plate is forced underneath another at a convergent boundary.
In the Pacific Ocean, there are regions where spreading occurs, particularly along the East Pacific Rise. This spreading creates new oceanic crust, which pushes the existing crust apart. As a result, the Pacific Ocean is expanding in these areas.
But in other regions, such as along the western coast of the Americas, subduction is dominant. Here, the Pacific Plate is being forced underneath the continental plates, leading to a reduction in the size of the Pacific Ocean.
Scientists study various geologic features on the ocean floor to gather evidence for these processes. They use technologies like sonar to map the seafloor, and they also collect rock samples and analyze the magnetic properties of the crust to understand its history.
So, in summary, scientists observe spreading and subduction processes in the Pacific Ocean, which provide evidence that the ocean is becoming smaller in certain areas.