What Are Some Features Of The Ocean Floor
This graphic shows several ocean floor features on a scale from 0 35 000 feet below sea level.
What are some features of the ocean floor. The ocean floor covers 70 of the earth s surface. This study is extensive and it has been established that the ocean floor has similar features of mountains and valleys as on the earth. While most life on this planet requires sunlight to live there is an. The following features are shown at example depths to scale though each feature has a considerable.
The under water topography maps have been developed by the study of ocean floor topography. In fact it has been said that we know more about the surface of the moon than about the deeper ocean trenches. The ocean floor is called the abyssal plain. But then hydrothermal vents were discovered.
Submarine sediments are of two main types. These areas are among the flattest and least explored on the earth s surface. A number of major features of the basins depart from this average for example the mountainous ocean ridges deep sea trenches and jagged linear fracture zones. Those consisting of material washed from the land into the sea and those comprising the skeletal remains of.
On the sea floor made up of rocks minerals sediments and sand a steep cliff like slope increases water pressure and is where the continent connects with the ocean floor. What are three. The ocean floor off the continental shelf is known as the abyssal plain. Back in 1977 a very interesting discovery was made on the deep ocean floor where no light penetrates.
Here are 15 crazy facts about the ocean floor. The abyssal plain has a depth between 2 200 and 5 500 m 7 200 and 18 000 ft and covers about 40 of the ocean floor. Mid ocean ridge underwater on the sea floor that are made up of magma and run all around the ocean. Features of the ocean include the continental shelf slope and rise.
We know very little about the deep ocean floor and the life it holds due to the depth and the difficulties this creates for scientists. The deepest reaches of the ocean were once thought to be devoid of life since no light penetrates beyond 1 000 meters 3 300 feet. Ocean floor topography involves the study of ocean bottom features including the outer continental shelf continental slopes and ocean waves desktops. Some features like canyons and seamounts might look familiar while others such as hydrothermal vents and methane seeps are unique to the deep.
Below the ocean floor there are a few small deeper areas called ocean trenches.