Download The Ocean Basins

The Ocean Basins
Three Major Oceans
Pacific
Atlantic
Indian
Three Major Oceans
Atlantic – the shallowest ocean
(3.3km average depth)
Indian – second shallowest ocean
(3.8km average depth)
Pacific – the deepest ocean
(3.9km average depth)
What is a sea?
Small area of the
ocean that is
partially
surrounded by land
The Seven Seas
Numerous seas – they are all
considered part of an ocean
Exploring our Oceans
• Oceanography is the study of the
physical characteristics, chemical
composition and life forms of the
ocean.
What are Submersibles?
• Underwater research vessels
The Alvin
The Jason
SONAR
• Important to help map ocean floor
• Sound Navigation and Ranging
How
SONAR
works…
receiver
ocean surface
transmitter
ocean floor
Differences in the time it takes for the
sound waves to leave the boat and
then return tell scientists how deep
the ocean bottom is.
Features of the Ocean Basins
• Continental margin: portion of ocean made up of
continental crust
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin
Features of the Ocean Basins
continental shelf: gently sloping part of continent under
ocean surface.
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin
Features of the Ocean Basins
• continental slope: boundary between continental
crust and oceanic crust
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin
Features of the Ocean Basins
• continental rise: separates continental slope &
ocean bottom; pile of sediments.
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin
Features of the Ocean Basins
• abyssal plain: large flat area on the ocean floor
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin
Features of the Ocean Basins
• seamount: underwater volcanic mountain (1000m)
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin
Features of the Ocean Basins
• Rift valley – middle of mid-ocean ridge;
divergent
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin
Features of the Ocean Basins
• Guyot: a flat-topped submerged seamount
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin
Features of the Ocean Basins
• trench: deep narrow valleys along the edges of
ocean floor; convergent.
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin
Features of the Ocean Basins
• Mid-ocean ridge –chain of underwater mountains
running through ocean basin; divergent boundary.
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin
Features of the Ocean Basins
• coral reef: limestone structures
containing shells of animals that
surround volcanic islands
Other Features and Plate
Movement
Continental
Margin
DEEP OCEAN BASIN
(Oceanic Crust)
Continental
Margin