The map below shows the age of the ocean floor (Tarbuck). Scientists used evidence of paleomagnetism stored in basalt ocean crust, along with the age of rock samples and seafloor topography, to create...

The map below shows the age of the ocean floor (Tarbuck). Scientists used evidence of paleomagnetism stored in basalt ocean crust, along with the age of rock samples and seafloor topography, to create maps that show the age of the ocean floor. For example, the reddish-orange colored bands shown in range in age from the present to about 30 million years ago. Now, compare the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Why are reddish-orange colored bands so much wider along the ridge in the East Pacific Ocean (between the Pacific and Nazca plates) than the mid-Atlantic Ridge (between the North American and African plates)?

Extracted text: North American Eurasian plate Eurasian plate plate Juan de Fuca plate Caribbean plate Philippine plate Arabian plate Pacific plate Соcos plate African plate Fracture zones Nazca plate South American plate Australian- Indian plate Australian-Indian plate Scotia plate Antarctic plate Millions of years 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 © 2017 Pearson Education, Inc.