EarthRef.org Digital Archive (ERDA) -- Heat Flow Levels Over a Mid-Ocean Ridge Data Worksheet

Description
This image of heat flow at a Mid-Ocean Ridge is re-drawn from a graph in Earth's Dynamic Systems. Mid-ocean ridges are shallow because the crust at a mid-ocean ridge is hot and less dense than cooler, older oceanic crust. This density differences causes the mid-ocean ridge crust to float higher than the oceanic crust. The depth variation of the oceanic crust away from a mid-ocean ridge can therefore be used to give information on how much heat is brought to the surface at this particular region and how the lithosphere cools. This relationship between the heat content of the oceanic crust and its depth at varying ages can be used to determine the heat that is emplaced at a mid-ocean ridge. Compare this data to the Gravity Measurements Over an Oceanic Ridge data.

Instructions
Identify specific heat flow levels at various distances from the oceanic ridge. Analyze any variations in heat flow levels and identify a reason for such a difference.

Keywords
divergent margin, divergent plate boundaries heat data, divergent plate boundary heat data, ERESE, mid-ocean ridge, oceanic ridge, spreading center heat data, temperature

Copyright Owner
Enduring Resources for Earth Science Education (ERESE)

Copyright Description
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