Over time the earth s magnetic field reverses its north.
Magnetic anomaly stripes on ocean floors.
Magnetic stripes and isotopic clocks oceanographic exploration in the 1950s led to a much better understanding of the ocean floor.
Among the new findings was the discovery of zebra stripe like magnetic patterns for the rocks of the ocean floor.
Xavier le pichon james r.
These patterns were unlike any seen for continental rocks.
In geophysics a magnetic anomaly is a local variation in the earth s magnetic field resulting from variations in the chemistry or magnetism of the rocks.
Mapping of variation over an area is valuable in detecting structures obscured by overlying material.
They can be stronger positive or weaker negative than the average total read more.
When magma flows out of a mid ocean ridge small magnetic minerals in the magma align themselves to point in the direction of the earth s current magnetic north.
Heirtzler magnetic anomalies in the indian ocean and sea floor spreading journal of geophysical research 10 1029 jb073i006p02101 73 6 2101 2117 2012.
Magnetic striping of the sea floor after mid ocean ridges and trenches were discovered more evidence was discovered that helped to support the theory that the continents had moved around.
Magnetic striping magnetic minerals are found in rocks.
Marine magnetic anomalies typically represent 1 percent of the total geomagnetic field strength.
A marine magnetic anomaly is a variation in strength of earth s magnetic field caused by magnetism in rocks of the ocean floor.