Questions and Answers
What is the true ocean floor characterized by?
What is known as the continental shelf?
The border of the continent that is below the surface of the water and slopes gradually away from the shore.
What is a mid-ocean ridge?
A divergent boundary where ocean plates are spreading apart.
Define oceanic trench.
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What is a volcanic island?
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What is the continental rise?
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What is the continental slope?
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Study Notes
Ocean Floor Features
- Abyssal Plain: True ocean floor characterized by a flat, smooth surface made from sediment and continental runoff; located in deep, dark, and cold waters where sunlight cannot reach.
- Oceanic Trench: Deep cuts near the abyssal plain representing the deepest sections of the earth’s crust; formed in subduction zones at convergent boundaries.
Continental Structures
- Continental Shelf: Submerged border of continents that slopes gradually away from the shore, marking the transition from land to sea.
- Continental Slope: Area that lies between the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor, representing a steeper descent into the ocean.
- Continental Rise: Underwater feature situated between the continental slope and the abyssal plain, composed of accumulated sediment.
Geological Processes
- Mid-Ocean Ridge: Divergent boundary where oceanic plates are separating, creating new oceanic crust and often associated with volcanic activity.
- Volcanic Island: Mountain formed on the ocean floor from hot lava expelled through a vent; can be isolated or part of a chain of underwater mountains that rarely reach the ocean surface.
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Description
Test your knowledge of ocean terminology with this flashcard quiz on different parts of the ocean. From the abyssal plain to continental shelves, each term is defined to help you understand the vast underwater world. Perfect for students and ocean enthusiasts alike!
