mid-ocean ridge

How ocean trenches and mid-ocean ridges are formed
Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Also known as an oceanic spreading ridge, a fracture zone along the ocean bottom where molten mantle material comes to the surface, thus creating new crust. This fracture can be seen beneath the ocean as a submaribe mountain belt or line of ridges that form as molten rock reaches the ocean bottom and solidifies (see seafloor spreading). The first mid-ocean ridge to be discovered was that running roughy north-south in the Atlantic. Mid-ocean ridges are important sites of earthquakes and volcanic activity. See also ocean trench.

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• GEOLOGY AND PLANETARY SCIENCE

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