It’s truly impressive! This amount of earthquakes in a single day certainly draws attention to the seismic activity in the region. The Canadian coast, especially along the Pacific tectonic plate, is known for its seismic activity due to the interaction of tectonic plates. These events can be concerning as they can cause significant damage to the affected areas and highlight the importance of earthquake surveillance and preparedness in earthquake-prone areas.

New oceanic crust

The formation of new oceanic crust is a continuous and fundamental process in Earth's geology, occurring mainly at mid-ocean ridges, where tectonic plates move away from each other. In these regions, magma rises from the Earth's mantle and solidifies, forming new oceanic crust. This process is known as “seafloor spreading.”

As magma cools and solidifies, it forms igneous rocks, such as basalt, which make up new oceanic crust. Over millions of years, this crust moves away from the mid-ocean ridge, driven by underlying tectonic activity, until it encounters a continental plate or another oceanic plate. In these regions, subduction can occur, where older oceanic crust is pushed beneath the continental crust or another oceanic plate in a subduction zone.

The cycle of formation and destruction of oceanic crust is one of the most important geological processes in the dynamics of the Earth and plays a crucial role in the configuration and evolution of continents and oceans over geological time.

No major risks

In general, the natural process of forming new oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges does not pose significant risks to people living nearby. These activities occur mainly on the ocean floor, in underwater areas far from the coast.

However, it is important to mention that oceanic ridges can be associated with earthquakes and volcanic activity, since they are places where tectonic movements and the release of magma from the Earth's mantle occur. In some situations, these events can cause underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions that can generate seismic waves or tsunamis.

Furthermore, while the natural formation of new ocean crust does not directly pose risks to humans, human activities such as deep-sea mineral exploration or installation of subsea infrastructure can bring their own environmental risks and impacts.

Therefore, while the natural formation of new ocean crust does not pose a major risk in itself, it is important to consider the possible indirect effects and take appropriate precautionary and monitoring measures.