Overlapping spreading centers

[2] This 3:1 overlap to offset ratio (observed at a wide range of scales, from hundreds of meters to tens of km) holds the key to their mechanism of formation.

This paradox is solved by the fact that the overlapping spreading centers are non-steady-state and propagate along the ridge; as one segment lengthens, the neighboring segment shortens.

Which segment lengthens, is arbitrary; evidence shows that at times the spreading center tips have alternated migrating directions.

[2] The discovery of overlapping spreading centers revealed the time-varying behavior of mid-ocean ridge segments, with implications for magmatism, volcanism and patterns of hydrothermal activity.

[5] Overlapping spreading centers are found mostly on mid-ocean ridge spreading centers in the Pacific Ocean basin where the rates of separation between the plates are higher than in other ocean basins.