Which of the following is correct?
A)The age of the sea floor is the same in most areas of the ocean.
B)The age of the sea floor does not follow a discernable pattern.
C)The age of the sea floor increases with increasing distance from a mid-ocean ridge.
D)The age of the sea floor increases with increasing distance from a trench.
E)The oldest sea floor material is several billion years in age.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The age of the sea floor increases with increasing distance from a mid-ocean ridge. This is because new oceanic crust is formed at the ridge and then moves away from it, getting older as it moves further away. This process is known as seafloor spreading. Trenches are associated with subduction zones, where oceanic crust is being consumed, so the age of the sea floor would be younger near a trench, not older. Option A is incorrect because the age of the sea floor does vary depending on location. Option B is incorrect because there is a discernable pattern - the age increases with increasing distance from the mid-ocean ridge. Finally, option E is incorrect because the oldest sea floor is only about 200 million years old, not several billion years.

Which of the Following Is Correct