TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

SEAFLOOR SPREADING CENTRE [1 record]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2006-11-15

English

Subject field(s)
  • Tectonics
  • Oceanography
CONT

In 1963, F. Vine and D.H. Matthews reasoned that, as basaltic magma rises to form new ocean floor at a mid-ocean spreading center, it records the polarity of the magnetic field existing at the time magma crystallized. As spreading pulls the new oceanic crust apart, stripes of approximately the same size should be carried away from the ridge on each side ... Basaltic magma forming at mid-ocean ridges serves as a kind of "tape recorder", recording the Earth's magnetic field as it reverses through time. If this idea is correct, alternating stripes of normal and reversed polarity should be arranged symmetrically about mid-ocean spreading centers.

CONT

Buoyant flow beneath oceanic spreading centres can be driven by density gradients due to thermal expansion and compositional gradients arising from the extraction of melt.

OBS

oceanic spreading centre: term used at Natural Resources Canada - Earth Sciences Sector.

Key term(s)
  • mid-oceanic spreading center

French

Domaine(s)
  • Tectonique
  • Océanographie
CONT

Minéralisation de sulfures hydrothermaux des centres d'expansion des fonds océaniques.

OBS

centre de renouvellement des fonds océaniques : terme en usage à Ressources naturelles Canada - Secteur des sciences de la Terre.

PHR

Centre d'expansion des fonds océaniques actif.

Spanish

Save record 1

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2024
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Display options

Change the order of display of the official languages of Canada
Option to display the non-official languages (Spanish or Portuguese)
Display definitions, contexts, etc., on records

Features

Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.

Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.

Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.

Date Modified: