Ocean rift zone saw spreading happen in a sudden burst

A newly deployed seafloor observatory at the Southeast Indian Ridge captured the first in situ measurement of oceanic crust being created between tectonic plates . Rather than occurring gradually, seafloor spreading happens in rare, violent bursts after tectonic tension builds over decades . The monitoring system recorded the phenomenon when the seafloor split open in April 2024, just months after deployment .

Source: Ars Technica | 2026-07-08