Seafloor spreading happening, because earthquakes break apart the floor
Seafloor spreading is a geological process where new oceanic crust is created at mid-oceanic ridges or spreading centers. It occurs due to the movement of tectonic plates on the Earth's surface.
Earthquakes, on the other hand, are not directly responsible for the breakage of the seafloor. Earthquakes occur when there is sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, and the shaking can result in the deformation or fracture of rocks. Earthquakes are caused by a variety of factors, including plate tectonics, volcanic activity, or even human activities such as mining or reservoir-induced seismicity.
However, the movement of tectonic plates and the associated stresses and strains they induce can contribute to the generation of earthquakes. At plate boundaries, where plates interact and collide or separate, the accumulation of stress can eventually lead to the occurrence of earthquakes.
In the case of seafloor spreading, the underlying cause is the movement of tectonic plates. As two plates diverge or move apart, magma rises from the mantle to fill the gap, creating new oceanic crust. This process forms mid-oceanic ridges, where volcanic activity can also occur.
While earthquakes can occur along mid-oceanic ridges due to the movement and interaction of tectonic plates, they are not the direct cause of seafloor spreading. Seafloor spreading is primarily driven by the movement of the plates themselves, with earthquakes being a consequence of this movement.