spreading centers

Spreading centers are underwater regions where tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma from beneath Earth's crust to rise and create new oceanic crust. This process happens at mid-ocean ridges, forming underwater mountain ranges. As the plates continue to separate, the fresh magma cools and solidifies, gradually building up the ocean floor. Spreading centers are essential for Earth's geology, constantly renewing the oceanic crust and driving plate tectonics, which influence seismic activity, ocean currents, and the global landscape.