Earth’s crust continuously melts and solidifies in the upper mantle. why does oceanic crust solidify faster than continental crust? a continental crust spans a wider area and is generally thinner than oceanic crust. b magma beneath oceanic crust is a lower temperature than magma beneath continental crust. c when magma comes into contact with ocean water it cools faster than when it reaches continental rock. d salt in ocean water accelerates the solidification process by way of chemical reaction.