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Spread of Seafloor Directly Observed for the First Time
The New York Times • • general
Key Points:
- In 2024, researchers observed a rare large-scale seafloor spreading event in the Indian Ocean, where a series of earthquakes suddenly created more than three feet of new seafloor.
- This event was captured by the OHA-GEODAMS observatory, a network of 15 monitoring stations set up just two months prior to the earthquake swarm, allowing detailed data collection.
- The study, published in Nature, provides rare insight into the slow and subtle process of tectonic plate movement and seafloor recycling, which typically occurs only a few inches per year.
- Lead author Jean-Yves Royer emphasized the fortunate timing and proximity of the lava outpouring to the instruments, which ensured no loss of critical data during the event.
