Researchers witness the birth of new oceanic crust on the Southeast Indian Ridge

Researchers directly observed the birth of new oceanic crust for sixteen days, a world first. This event, occurring on the Southeast Indian Ridge, involved seismic activity, a rapid subsidence of the seafloor, and the eruption of 160 million cubic meters of lava. The observation provides unprecedented insight into the complex and episodic processes driving ocean expansion and the constant renewal of Earth's surface.