The direction tectonic plates move during seafloor spreading is away from the mid-ocean ridge.
Seafloor spreading is the process where new oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges and gradually moves away from them. This movement is driven by convection currents in the Earth's mantle. Here's a more detailed breakdown:
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Formation at Mid-Ocean Ridges: Molten rock (magma) rises from the mantle and erupts along the mid-ocean ridge, solidifying to form new oceanic crust.
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Movement Away: As new crust is formed, the older crust is pushed away from the ridge. This movement is generally outward from the ridge on both sides, not necessarily in one cardinal direction (like North, South, East, or West). The relative direction is always away from the ridge axis.
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Varying Directions: The specific direction of movement varies depending on the location along the mid-ocean ridge system. Some plates may move in a more northwesterly direction, as stated in the reference, due to the specific geometry of the spreading center and surrounding tectonic forces. However, this is a local observation, not a global rule.
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Example: Along the East Pacific Rise, the Pacific Plate moves generally northwest, while the Nazca Plate moves generally east. Both are moving away from the rise.
Therefore, while local areas might exhibit movement in specific directions like "northwesterly," the fundamental direction of tectonic plate movement during seafloor spreading is away from the mid-ocean ridge.
