The Continental Drift theory, initially proposed by Alfred Wegener, revolutionized our understanding of how oceans and continents are distributed across the Earth’s surface. Although Wegener’s theory relied heavily on evidence from flora, fauna, and deposits like tillite, several ground-breaking discoveries made in the post-war period further expanded our geological insights.
One notable theory that emerged during this time was the Convection Current theory, introduced by Arthur Holmes. It suggested that convection currents operate within the Earth’s mantle, potentially influencing the movement of continents.
Additionally, the concept of paleomagnetism, which involves studying the magnetic fields preserved in rocks, sediments, or archaeological materials, played a pivotal role in shaping more prominent theories such as Sea-Floor Spreading (proposed by Harry Hess in 1961) and Plate Tectonics theory.
These subsequent studies have revealed several crucial findings that were not available during Wegener’s era.
Key discoveries include:
- The stark contrast in age between oceanic crust rocks, which are relatively young, not exceeding 200 million years, and continental rocks, some of which date back as far as 3,200 million years.
- Surprisingly thin sediments on the ocean floor, ranging from 6 to 7 kilometers, in stark contrast to the substantial sediment thickness of 30 to 40 kilometers found on continental surfaces.
- The presence of mid-oceanic ridges across all oceans, showcasing substantial evidence of faulting and volcanic activity while facilitating the upward movement of lava to the surface.
- The remarkable similarities observed in rocks equidistant from the crest of mid-oceanic ridges in terms of formation period, chemical composition, and magnetic properties. Rocks nearer to the ridges exhibit normal polarity and are the youngest, with increasing ages as one moves away from the crest.
In 1961, Harry Hess proposed the concept of sea floor spreading, suggesting that the ocean floor is in constant motion. He argued that the continual eruption of lava at the crest of oceanic ridges causes the rupture of the oceanic crust, with fresh lava filling the gaps and pushing the oceanic crust apart.
The introduction of sea floor spreading rekindled interest in the study of ocean and continent distribution, leading to the development of the plate tectonics hypothesis, which is an extensive and comprehensive framework.
The fundamental tenets of plate tectonics are as follows:
- Seafloor spreading occurs, leading to the continual creation of new oceanic crust at active mid-oceanic ridges, while destruction occurs at subduction zones or trenches.
- The overall surface area of the Earth remains relatively constant, as the consumption of crust is balanced by the creation of new crust.
- The newly formed crust becomes part of distinct plates.
- The Earth’s lithosphere comprises seven major plates and several minor plates, all constantly interacting and affecting the distribution of oceans and continents.
Conclusion/Way forward:
The theory of plate tectonics brings together sea floor spreading, continental drift, crustal structures, and global patterns of seismic and volcanic activities, providing a comprehensive and unified understanding of how our planet’s surface has evolved over time.