Download Ocean Topography

Geological Features at Sea
and on Land
Pangea
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Nearly 100 years ago Alfred Wegner
thought that the map looked like a giant
jigsaw puzzel.
This thinking lead to the development of
the Theory of Plate Tectonics!
Ocean Topography
Main Features
Topography
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Is the study of Earth's surface shape and
features.
Ocean topography is the study of the
ocean floor and the features.
Shoreline
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A shore or shoreline is the
fringe of land at the edge of
a large body of water, such
as an ocean, sea, or lake.
In physical oceanography, a
shore is the wider fringe that
is geologically modified by
the action of the body of
water past and present, while
the beach is at the edge of
the shore.
Abyssal hills
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Hills along the ocean floor.
Ranging in height and diameter, these hills
are much larger then the hills we see on
land. 100-2000 meters high and several
KM across.
Abyssal plains
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Abyssal plains are flat or very gently
sloping areas of the deep ocean basin
floor.
They generally lie between the foot of a
continental rise and a mid-oceanic ridge.
Sea cave
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A sea cave, or littoral cave, is
a type of cave formed primarily
by the wave action of the sea, or
erosion!.
Sea caves are found throughout
the world, actively forming along
present coastlines and as relict
sea caves on former coastlines.
The Ocean Floor
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Brain Pop: The Ocean Floor
http://www.brainpop.com/science/earthsy
stem/oceanfloor/
Continental shelf
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The continental shelf is the extended
perimeter of each continent and
associated coastal plain.
This area was part of the continent during
the glacial periods, but is undersea during
interglacial periods.
Continental slope
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The descending slope which connects the
sea floor to the Continental shelf.
It is still considered to be part of the
Continent.
Sea Mount
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A seamount is a mountain rising from
the ocean seafloor that does not reach to
the water's surface (sea level).
They are also called underwater volcanoes
because are typically formed from extinct
volcanoes, that rise abruptly.
Guyot
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A guyot also known as a tablemount, is
a flat-topped seamount. Their flatness is
due to erosion by waves, winds, and
atmospheric processes.
Mid-Ocean ridge
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A mid-ocean ridge is an underwater
mountain range, formed by plate
tectonics.
It is usually an oceanic spreading
center, which is responsible for seafloor
spreading.
Trench
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The oceanic trenches are hemisphericscale long but narrow topographic
depressions of the sea floor.
They are also the deepest parts of the
ocean floor.
Mariana Trench
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Is the deepest part of the
world's oceans, and the
deepest location on the
surface of the Earth's crust.
It has a maximum depth of
about 10,911meters, or 11
kilometers.
Oceanic Island
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One type of oceanic island is found in a
volcanic island arc. These islands arise
from volcanoes where the subduction of
one plate under another is occurring.
Atoll
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An atoll is an island of coral that encircles
a lagoon partially or completely.
Volcanic fissure
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A linear volcanic vent through which lava
erupts, usually without any explosive
activity. The vent is usually a few meters
wide and may be many kilometers long
Hydrothermal Vent
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A hydrothermal vent is a
fissure in a planet's surface
from which geothermal
heated water issues.
Hydrothermal vents are
commonly found near
volcanically active places,
areas where tectonic plates
are moving apart, ocean
basins, and hotspots.
Answer the Following Questions:
1.
2.
Compare the formation of Seamounts and Volcanoes.
Explain the relationship between river valleys and sea
canyons.
3.
List 2 ways in which basins are formed.
4.
How does water enter lakes?
5.
What 3 Oceans does Canada’s water flow into?
Geological Features Project
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Working either on your own or with a
partner you are going to create a 3-D
model of the geological features found on
the ocean floor.
You must include 10 different geological
features that are found on the ocean floor.
(If you are working by yourself you only
have to include 5)
Today…
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Create a diagram of your 3-D model.
This diagram must include all of the features
that you plan to include.
It is essentially a map of what your model will
look like.
I have to approve this plan in order for you to
start building your model.
You will have to hand this in with the final
project and it will be assessed.
What I am looking for…
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Complete diagram with all features.
Neat and Labelled features
Coloured diagram
A description of each feature must be included
on a separate piece of paper.
** You will be using this to create your model so
make it realistic. I will be looking to see that
your model resembles your diagram.
List of Geological Features
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Continental Shelf
Continental Slope
Seamount
Mid ocean ridge (mountain range)
Sea Canyons
Trenches
Guyots
Abyssal Hills
Abyssal Plains
Sea Cave
Atoll
Oceanic Islands
Hydrothermal Vent
Volcanic Fissure