Without doing any calculations, how can you tell that the Van Buren ridge is spreading faster than the Lavaca Ridge? (refer to picture attached) Calculating Plate Speeds Using Seafloor PaleomagnetismChronSubchronThe paleomagnetic time scale (Fig. 1) illustrates the reversals of earth's magnetic polarity through time. The timescale was developed by examining the magnetic polarity of lava flows of various ages from thousands of locationson the continents. Many years later, and by accident, a similar pattern of magnetic reversals was discovered onthe sea floor (Figs. 2 and 3). In each case, the pattern of reversals on the seafloor exhibits symmetry with respectJaramilloCobs Mourtain to mid-ocean ridges (i.e. East Pacific Rise, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, etc.). Can you figure out how the paleomagnetic1.0data provides a way to calculate how fast the plates are moving away from the ridge axis?DefinitionsHalf-spreading rate is the speed at which one plate is moving away from a mid-ocean ridge.Full-spreading rate =2 x half-spreading rate (This is the rate at which the ocean basin is getting wider.]OlduvaiReunion1. Without doing any calculations, how can you tell that the Van Buren ridge is spreading faster than the LavacaRidge?KaenaMammoth2. Calculate and compare the a) half-spreading rates and b) full spreading rates for the Lavaca and Van Burenridges. SHOW YOUR WORK! Do your calculated results confirm that the Van Buren ridge is spreading faster?CochitiLavaca Ridge axis4.0NunivakSHOW YOUR WORK HERE!SidufjallThvera5.0Figure 1. PaleomagneticTime Scale, with periods ofFigure 2. Paleomagnetism across the Lavaca Ridge. Periods of normalpolarity are in black.normal polarity in black.O 10 20 30 40 50 60luluduluduluhuludulahuladVan Buren Ridge axisKilometersSCALEFigure 3. Paleomagnetism across the Van Buren Ridge. Periods of normal polarity are in black.Radiometric Age (million years)GILBERTGAUSSMATUYAMABRUNHES

Question

Accepted Answer

The wide or broad magnetic strips (magnetic anomalies) suggest faster spreading rate and the…