what is seafloor spreading theory

Seafloor spreading is a geologic process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges, where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge. This process is a key component of the theory of plate tectonics and helps explain continental drift. It is driven by the upwelling of molten material from the Earth's mantle along the mid-ocean ridges, which pushes the existing oceanic crust apart. As the new crust forms, it records the Earth's magnetic field, providing evidence for the process of seafloor spreading. The concept was proposed in the 1960s by geophysicists Harry Hess and Robert Dietz and has since become a fundamental principle in the field of geology