What are mid-ocean ridges?
A. Found in all of Earth's oceans
B. Found only in the Pacific Ocean
C. Located mostly along coastlines
D. Long, deep ocean trenches
Answer (2)
Mid-ocean ridges are underwater mountain systems that form as a result of oceanic divergent plate boundaries. These geological features are characterized by a rift at the ridge's crest where new oceanic crust is created by the upwelling of magma from the mantle. Mid-ocean ridges are found in all of Earth's oceans and often feature a complex network of transform faults, which help accommodate the movement of the tectonic plates.
The most notable example of a mid-ocean ridge is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which roughly bisects the Atlantic Ocean, and is part of a global network of divergent plate boundaries predominantly found in ocean basins. Some rift zones, such as the East African Rift, are located on land, but most are underwater. Divergent boundaries are not typically found along coastlines and should not be confused with deep ocean trenches, which are associated with convergent plate boundaries.
Regarding plate tectonics, it is important to distinguish mid-ocean ridges from trenches, as they are formed by the opposite types of plate interactions. Mid-ocean ridges form when tectonic plates move apart, while trenches are created where plates collide and one is forced under the other, known as subduction.
Mid-ocean ridges are underwater mountain ranges formed by tectonic plate movements at divergent boundaries, found in all Earth's oceans. They play a crucial role in creating new oceanic crust and are vital to our understanding of plate tectonics. An example is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, which illustrates the geological activity associated with these features.
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