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Formation and Features of the Ocean Floor

Explore the formation and features of the ocean floor, including continental margins, deep ocean basins, trenches, abyssal plains, mid-ocean ridges, and seamounts. Learn about the different types of sediments deposited on the ocean floor, including inorganic, biogenic, and chemical sediments.

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Formation and Features of the Ocean Floor

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  1. Chapter 23 The Ocean Basins

  2. Formation of the Oceansvideoclip: http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/earth/water_and_ice/ocean#p00fzss4 • During early years of Earth’s formation, volcanic activity added water vapor to atmosphere. • As earth and it’s atmosphere cooled, water condensed into rain. It rained for a very long time-filled the ocean basins • Comets also brought water from space

  3. The Global Ocean • Body of salt water • Covers nearly ¾ of the Earth’s surface • 5 major oceans (from largest to smallest): • Pacific (also the deepest) • Atlantic • Indian • Southern • Arctic Ocean

  4. What is the difference between the ocean and a sea? • Seas are smaller than oceans • May be partially surrounded by land • Major seas include: • Mediterranean • Caribbean • South China

  5. Exploration • Oceanography is the study of the ocean • Sonar is used to determine depths • This information is used to make maps and profiles of the ocean floor • Submersibles or subs allow oceanographers to study the ocean for extended times Brain POP: Oceans http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/oceans/

  6. Brain POP: Ocean Floor http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsystem/oceanfloor/preview.weml 2 major areas of the ocean floor: • Continental margins • Deep ocean basins

  7. Ocean Floor Features • Continental margins-shallow, continental crust with a thick wedge of sediment: • Continental shelf: part of continent covered by water • Continental slope and rise: see picture, pg. 642

  8. Ocean Floor Features • Deep-ocean basins-oceanic crust and thin layer of sediment • Trenches: long narrow depressions in the deep ocean, caused by subduction • Abyssal plains: vast, flat areas in water over 4 km deep • Mid-Ocean ridges: caused by divergent boundaries, underwater mountain ranges, site of sea floor spreading • Seamounts: submerged volcanic mountains taller than 1 km

  9. Ocean Floor Sediments How do sediments get deposited into the ocean? • Carried into oceans by rivers or streams • Carried into ocean by wave erosion • Organisms die-remains settle on ocean floor

  10. Ocean Floor Sediments • Inorganic: rock particles • Biogenic: produced by living things-diatoms (Protists) • Chemical: substances dissolved in water crystallize

  11. Biogenic Sediments-produced by living things: • Common compound: silica (SiO2) and Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3) Foraminiferans Diatoms

  12. Nodules • Inorganic mineral deposits formed when minerals dissolved in water crystallize into solids on ocean floor

  13. Deep ocean floor sediments • Muds: very fine silt/clay • Oozes: soft, fine sediment, 2 types: calcareous and siliceous

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