The hardened lava forms new ocean floor.
The process of creating a new ocean floor is called.
Seafloor spreading can stop during the process but if it continues to the point that the continent is completely severed then a new ocean basin is created.
Seafloor spreading definition a process in which new ocean floor is created as molten material from the earth s mantle rises in margins between plates or ridges and spreads out.
Bathymetry the shape of the ocean floor is largely a result of a process called plate tectonics the outer rocky layer of the earth includes about a dozen large sections called tectonic plates that are arranged like a spherical jig saw puzzle floating on top of the earth s hot flowing mantle.
The lava will then wells up and hardens causing the ocean floor to be pushed away from either side of the ridge.
The magnetism of mid ocean ridges helped scientists first identify the process of seafloor spreading in the early 20th century.
Basalt the once molten rock that makes up most new oceanic crust is a fairly magnetic substance and scientists began using magnetometers to measure the magnetism of the ocean floor in the 1950s what they discovered was that the magnetism of the ocean floor around.