Yes, new oceanic crust is constantly being formed at mid-ocean ridges. This process, called seafloor spreading, adds new crust to the Earth's surface.
However, this doesn't necessarily mean the Earth's radius is increasing. Here's why:
* Subduction zones: Simultaneously, old oceanic crust is being destroyed at subduction zones, where it sinks back into the mantle. This process roughly balances out the creation of new crust at mid-ocean ridges.
* Earth's volume: The Earth's volume is likely relatively constant. While new crust is added, old crust is recycled back into the mantle. The net change in volume is negligible.
* Earth's surface area: Since the Earth's volume is relatively constant, the surface area is also likely constant. This means the Earth's surface is not expanding significantly.
* Slight increases: It's possible there are slight increases in the Earth's radius due to the process of seafloor spreading, but these increases are extremely small and difficult to measure.
In summary:
* New oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges, but old crust is destroyed at subduction zones.
* This process maintains a relatively constant Earth volume and surface area.
* While slight increases in radius are possible, they are negligible compared to the overall size of the Earth.
So, while the Earth is dynamically changing with the creation and destruction of crust, it's not getting significantly bigger in terms of radius or surface area.