Ocean Floor Diagram Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is a continental shelf?

Large piles of sediment at the base of the continental slope

A steep descent to the ocean floor

A narrow strip of land on the ocean edge

Part of a continent that extends underwater to the deep ocean floor (correct)

What describes the continental slope?

The descent of the continental shelf to the ocean floor

What is the continental rise?

Large piles of sediment at the base of the continental slope

What comprises the continental margin?

Continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise Signup and view all the answers

Define seamounts.

Underwater mountains made of volcanic material Signup and view all the answers

What is an abyssal plain?

Huge, flat sediment covered areas of deep ocean Signup and view all the answers

What are mid-ocean ridges?

Underwater mountain ranges formed by plate tectonics Signup and view all the answers

What is a rift valley?

A lowland in the ground caused by the seafloor spreading apart Signup and view all the answers

Define a volcanic island.

An island that was made by volcanoes erupting from the ocean floor Signup and view all the answers

What is an ocean trench?

A long, deep depression in the ocean floor Signup and view all the answers

What is the shore or shoreline?

A narrow, gently sloping strip of land that lies on the edge of the ocean Signup and view all the answers

What is a continent?

Land mass area not under water Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Ocean Floor Features

Continental Shelf: Extension of a continent underwater, gradually leading to the deep ocean floor.
Continental Slope: The steep descent from the continental shelf to the ocean floor, featuring significant vertical change.
Continental Rise: Accumulation of large sediment deposits at the base of the continental slope, contributing to oceanic geography.

Continental Structures

Continental Margin: Composed of the continental shelf, slope, and rise, forming the transition between land and deep ocean.

Underwater Topography

Seamounts: Volcanic underwater mountains, formed from volcanic activity, often rising significantly from the ocean floor.
Abyssal Plain: Extensive, flat areas of the ocean floor covered with dense sediments, indicative of deep ocean ecosystems.

Geological Features

Mid-ocean Ridges: Major underwater mountain ranges formed by the tectonic movement of oceanic plates, usually found at divergent boundaries.
Rift Valley: Lowland areas created by the divergence of tectonic plates, often associated with volcanic activity and new ocean floor formation.
Volcanic Islands: Land masses formed from marine volcanic eruptions, emerging prominently above the water's surface.

Oceanic Depths

Ocean Trench: Deep, elongated depressions in the ocean floor, often resulting from subduction zones where one tectonic plate sinks beneath another.

Coastal Areas

Shore/Shoreline: Gently sloping land area bordering the ocean, crucial for ecosystems and human activities.
Continent: A large land mass that lies above sea level and is not submerged in water, contrasting with oceanic regions.

Description

Test your knowledge of ocean floor terminology with this quiz. Define key geographical terms such as continental shelf, slope, and rise. Perfect for students studying marine geography or oceanography.