Essentials of Oceanography: Chapter 3 – Flashcards

1) Continental margins 2) Deep ocean margins (abyssal plains) 3) Mid ocean ridge

lack major tectonic activity since they are in the center of lithospheric plates

near lithospheric plate boundaries and have high degrees of tectonic activity. (There are transform and convergent active margins)

1) continental shelf- flat gradual slope 2) shelf break- point marking the beginning of a steeper slope 3) continental slope- slope where the deep ocean basins begin 4) Continental rise- transition zone between continental margin and abyssal plain, that contains lots of debris

Form that debris in continental rise is in, with larger debris moving down to smaller

stacks of graded bedding

deposits at the mouth of submarine canyons

flat, deep, portions of ocean floor that make up deep ocean basins. They are formed by tiny particles slowly drifting to the ocean floor in a process called suspension settling

volcanic peaks in the abyssal plains. seamounts being upside down ice cream cone and tablemounts being flat topped

contains majority of earths volcanoes and large earthquakes because of its many convergent boundaries

rift valleys- this the area of separation of two divergent plates oceanic ridges- have prominent rift valley and steep rugged slopes. oceanic rises- slopes gentler and less rugged

carve submarine canyons. They are underwater avalanches of muddy water mixed with rocks and other debris.

shows relationship between the height of the land and the depth of the oceans. shows 70.8% of earth covered by oceans, and 29.2% by land

study of ocean depths, finding topography of ocean floor

Sounding- rope/wire with heavy weight (standard unit was fathom) (85 BC) echo sounding- reflection of sound signals ( early 1900s) precision depth recorder- focused beams. (1950s) Modern methods: multibeam echo sounders- multiple frequencies of sound used simultaneously side-scan sonar- can be towed above seafloor Satellite measurements