Question
Why is the ocean floor near a rift valley elevated?
A: it contains older denser rock
B: it is made of warmer less dense rock
A: it contains older denser rock
B: it is made of warmer less dense rock
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is **B: it is made of warmer less dense rock**.
Rift valleys are formed where tectonic plates are diverging, causing the lithosphere to thin and allowing magma to rise closer to the surface. This magma is typically warmer and less dense than the surrounding solid rock, which results in the ocean floor being elevated near rift valleys as the hot, less dense material causes the surface to bulge upwards.
Rift valleys are formed where tectonic plates are diverging, causing the lithosphere to thin and allowing magma to rise closer to the surface. This magma is typically warmer and less dense than the surrounding solid rock, which results in the ocean floor being elevated near rift valleys as the hot, less dense material causes the surface to bulge upwards.