OCEANIC Lithosphere

PREDICT: What percent of the earth is covered in water? What percent is land? Explain your prediction.

PREDICT:What percent of the earth’s water is salt? What percent is fresh? Explain your prediction.

World Ocean Facts Area (1,000,000 km²) Volume (1,000,000 km³) Average Depth (m) Maximum Depth (m) Atlantic Ocean Pacific Ocean ,022 Indian Ocean Arctic Ocean

Features of the Ocean Floor

Salinity A measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid A measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a given amount of liquid

Estuary A place where fresh & salt water meet.

shoreline The point where land meets the water The point where land meets the water

Continental shelf Sloping shelf of land that is made of the edges of the continent Sloping shelf of land that is made of the edges of the continent The continental shelf regions also contain the highest amount of benthic life (plants and animals that live on the ocean floor). The continental shelf regions also contain the highest amount of benthic life (plants and animals that live on the ocean floor).

Continental Edge The part of the continental shelf that begins to angle sharply down The part of the continental shelf that begins to angle sharply down

Continental Slope The steep cliff like drop from the continental edge to the ocean floor that connects the continental shelf and the oceanic crust The steep cliff like drop from the continental edge to the ocean floor that connects the continental shelf and the oceanic crust It usually begins at 430 feet (130 meters) depth and can be up to 20 km wide. It usually begins at 430 feet (130 meters) depth and can be up to 20 km wide.

Continental rise Lower part of the continental slope which extends to the ocean floor Lower part of the continental slope which extends to the ocean floor

Abyssal Plain The broad flat ocean bottom The broad flat ocean bottom

Trenches Deepest parts of the ocean created by the undersea rivers and currents Deepest parts of the ocean created by the undersea rivers and currents The deepest one, the Marianas Trench in the South Pacific Ocean, is more than 35,000 feet (10,668 meters), or almost 6.6 miles (10.6 kilometers) deep. The deepest one, the Marianas Trench in the South Pacific Ocean, is more than 35,000 feet (10,668 meters), or almost 6.6 miles (10.6 kilometers) deep.

Mid-Ocean Ridge A chain of mountains under the sea A chain of mountains under the sea The world’s longest mountain range. It runs almost unbroken for 40,000 miles. The world’s longest mountain range. It runs almost unbroken for 40,000 miles.

Rift Valley Large crack that runs down the middle of the Mid-Ocean Ridge Large crack that runs down the middle of the Mid-Ocean Ridge

Seamounts An underwater mountain formed by a volcano An underwater mountain formed by a volcano Most seamounts began life as volcanoes formed over hot spots in the ocean floor. After the crust moves off the hot spot, the volcanic activity stops. Most seamounts began life as volcanoes formed over hot spots in the ocean floor. After the crust moves off the hot spot, the volcanic activity stops.

Guyots Seamounts whose peaks have eroded and become a flat surface are called guyots Seamounts whose peaks have eroded and become a flat surface are called guyots Inactive volcanoes on the ocean floor Inactive volcanoes on the ocean floor

Atoll As the seamount sinks or its peak erodes, the seamount will disappear beneath the water leaving the coral ring. This is called an atoll. As the seamount sinks or its peak erodes, the seamount will disappear beneath the water leaving the coral ring. This is called an atoll.