The Ocean Floor

1
The Ocean Floor
2
The Ocean Floor

• Divided into two parts
• Continental margin
• Deep Ocean Basin
• Continental crust comprises continental margin
• Deep ocean basin is comprised of oceanic crust

3
Continental Margin

• Continental Shelf
• Begins at shoreline and ends at the slope
• Depth can reach up to 200 M
• Continental Slope
• Begins at shelf and extends to ocean floor
• Ranges from 200 to 4,000 M

4
Deep-ocean Basin

• Abyssal Plain
• Broad flat portion of the ocean floor
• Average depth is 4,000
• Deepest point in the ocean is the Mariana Trench
  located in the Pacific ocean 11,033 meters
• Ridges and rift valleys formed at divergent
  boundaries
• Trenches formed at convergent boundaries

5
Features of the Ocean Floor
6
Features of the Ocean Floor

• A Continental Slope
• B Seamounts
• C Abyssal Plain
• D Mid-Ocean Ridge (Divergent)
• E Volcanic Island
• F Continental Shelf
• G Deep Ocean trench (Convergent)

7
Mapping the ocean floor

• Mapping ocean floor