Explain how oceanic crust is continuously created at mid-ocean ridges.

Answer 1

Mid-ocean ridges are areas where tectonic plates are moving apart from each other, resulting in magma rising up from the mantle and solidifying to form new oceanic crust. This process is known as seafloor spreading.

At the mid-ocean ridge, hot magma rises to fill the gap between the separating tectonic plates and cools off, solidifying into new rock. This process occurs over millions of years, and as the plates continue to spread apart, new magma rises up to fill the gap and create more new oceanic crust. This continuous cycle of magma rising and solidifying results in the creation of new oceanic crust at the mid-ocean ridges.

As the older crust moves away from the ridge towards the edges of the plates, it becomes colder, denser and eventually sinks at subduction zones. This continuous creation and destruction of oceanic crust is what helps to maintain the balance of the Earth's surface area, and plays a crucial role in shaping the planet's geography and biosphere.