What type of geological evidence supports plate tectonics?

The presence of magnetic strips in the ocean floor provides significant geological evidence supporting the theory of plate tectonics. As magma rises at mid-ocean ridges and solidifies to form new oceanic crust, iron-rich minerals within the magma align according to Earth's magnetic field. This alignment occurs both as the crust is formed and as the Earth's magnetic field undergoes periodic reversals over geological time.

These magnetic strips are symmetrical on either side of the mid-ocean ridges, reflecting the process of seafloor spreading where tectonic plates move apart. The discovery of these magnetic patterns revealed a historical record of Earth's magnetic field reversals and provided critical evidence that plates are continually moving and reshaping the Earth's surface.

In contrast, fossilized coral formations might suggest historical biological activity or sea level changes, and patterns of ocean currents and the behavior of marine species are more related to environmental and ecological phenomena rather than direct evidence of tectonic processes.