answersLogoWhite

0

Hot material is constantly welling up from beneath the crust via convection and forming new crust as it cools. The continuous formation of new crust pushes the old crust outward from the mid-ocean ridges.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What cause ocean ridges to form?

Ocean ridges form as a result of tectonic plate movement and divergent boundaries where two plates move apart. Magma rises to the surface between the plates, creating new oceanic crust that forms a ridge. This process, known as sea-floor spreading, leads to the continuous growth of the ocean ridges.


What happens when earth's plate move?

when the earths plates move we either have earthquakes, tsunamis, and we get ridges and trenches.


What is located in midocean ridges?

At mid-ocean ridges, tectonic plates are moving apart, creating new oceanic crust through volcanic activity. This results in the formation of underwater mountain chains and hydrothermal vents, which support unique ecosystems due to the high temperatures and mineral-rich waters.


Where would two plates move apart at mid-oceanic ridges?

at a divergent plate boundary


Do divergent boundaries cause the formation of mountains?

No, divergent boundaries do not cause the formation of mountains. Instead, mountains are typically formed at convergent boundaries where tectonic plates collide. Divergent boundaries are where plates move away from each other, creating rifts and oceanic ridges.


What direction do plates move in relation to ridges?

Depends on the type of plate boundary, at a mid-ocean ridge the plates move away from eachother. Ridges can also occur as a result of plate collision where the top layer of lithosphere is scraped off the subducted slab, this is called an accretionary prism.


What occurs when two tectonics plates move away from each other?

mid-ocean ridges and volcanoes


Do Plates move together or apart at mid ocean ridges?

Mid Ocean ridges separate the plates and create new seafloor. Places where plates converge and disappear into the abyss are called trenches. The Marianas Trench is the deepest trench in the world.


Do convection current in oceans cause tectonic plates to move?

No, convection currents in the upper mantle cause tectonic plates to move.


What makes tectonic plates move?

Tectonic plates move due to the forces generated by the heat and flow of molten rock in the mantle beneath them. This movement is driven by convection currents that cause the plates to either spread apart at mid-ocean ridges, collide at subduction zones, or slide past each other at transform boundaries.


What causes oceanic ridges?

Oceanic ridges are caused by the divergent movement of tectonic plates. As the plates move apart, magma rises from the Earth's mantle to fill the gap, creating new oceanic crust. This process is known as seafloor spreading.


What do plates do at divergent plate boundaries?

At divergent plate boundaries, plates move away from each other due to the upwelling of magma from the mantle. This process creates new oceanic crust as the plates separate. As the plates move apart, they create features such as mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.