Is the Atlantic Ocean expanding or shrinking Why?
Is the Atlantic Ocean expanding or shrinking Why? Atlantic Ocean growing by a few centimeters every year because of sea floor spreading. Seafloor spreading occurs at divergent plate boundaries as the tectonic plates slowly move away from each other.
How fast is Atlantic expanding?
Because of seafloor spreading and the movement of the ocean floor and of the continents outward from the ridge, the Atlantic Basin is widening at an estimated rate of 1 to 10 cm (0.5 to 4 inches) a year.
What will the sea look like in 2050?
The Gulf Coast and Southeast will see the most change. By 2050, sea level along contiguous U.S. coastlines could rise as much as 12 inches (30 centimeters) above today's waterline, according to researchers who analyzed nearly three decades of satellite observations.