Final answer:
The Atlantic Ocean is typically younger than the Pacific Ocean due to the ongoing seafloor spreading at the mid-Atlantic Ridge compared to the older and subducting Pacific seafloor. The Pacific has some of the oldest ocean floor areas dating to around 180 million years, whereas the Atlantic Ocean is younger, formed about 200 million years ago as Pangea began to split. option b is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
When examining the Sea Floor Spreading and Plate Tectonic Theory, we note significant differences in the ages of the ocean floors. According to data from sources such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the measurement of seafloor ages shows that the Atlantic Ocean is generally younger than the Pacific Ocean. By studying the mid-Atlantic ridge and comparing it to the spreading ridges off the coast of South America in the Pacific, we can determine which ocean is spreading faster, and therefore, infer their relative ages.
For example, the Atlantic Ocean began to form as the supercontinent Pangea started to break apart about 200 million years ago, initiating the process of seafloor spreading at the mid-Atlantic ridge. This seafloor is replenished consistently by the upwelling of magma that hardens to form new oceanic crust as the tectonic plates move apart. In contrast, the Pacific Ocean, which contains some of the oldest seafloor regions on the planet, has been subjected to subduction--the process whereby one plate is forced under another, leading to the older crust being recycled back into the mantle. Notably, the oldest seafloor discovered in the Pacific has been dated to be approximately 180 million years old, which highlights its relative antiquity compared to the youngest parts of the Atlantic seabed.
Age discrepancies between oceanic and continental crust can also be explained by tectonic activities. The oldest continental rocks are significantly older than the oldest oceanic crust because continental crust is less dense and does not readily subduct into the mantle, which allows continental rocks to survive for billions of years.