Ocean spreading centers are highlands on the ocean floor,sometimes referred to as submarine mountains.Oceanic crust worldwide is about the same thickness so isostasy would suggest the ocean floor should be as flat as Kansas.Which of the following statements best describes the origin of these submarine mountains?
A)The ridges are sites of young volcanos that produce high topography on the sea floor,like Hawaii.
B)The ridges represent upwelling zones from the core which produces a bulge at the earth's surface.
C)Compression at the ridges produce local uplift along the ridge axis.
D)The mantle beneath the ridges remains hot for millions of years producing an elevated region along the ridge axis because hot rocks are lower density than cold rocks.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The elevated regions along the ocean spreading centers are produced due to the hot mantle beneath the ridges. This hot mantle remains hot for millions of years producing an elevated region along the ridge axis because hot rocks are lower density than cold rocks. Therefore, choice D is the correct answer.

Ocean Spreading Centers Are Highlands on the Ocean Floor,sometimes Referred