The Ocean Floor Continental slope Volcanic island Continental shelf Seamount Continental rise Abyssal plain trench mid-ocean ridge Rift valley

Oceanography: The study of Earth’s oceans. The Ocean Floor Oceanography: The study of Earth’s oceans. A. Continental Slope E. Island Arcs B. Seamount F. Continental Shelf C. Abyssal Plain G. Trench D. The Mid-Ocean Ridge H. Continental Rise

A. Continental Slope CONNECTS CONTINENT TO OCEAN FLOOR IS THE END OF CONTINENTAL CRUST IS LIKE A CLIFF ON LAND

A. Continental Slope The continental slope begins at the shelf edge. The steep gradient that leads to the deep ocean floor and marks the seaward edge of the continental shelf. Slope is about the same as a movie theater aisle slopes steeply from the continental shelf

B. Seamount and Island Chains A steep-walled, pointy, volcano whose peak does not break the surface. Sometimes go above ocean surface as a volcanic island Is like a mountain or volcano on land.

B. Seamount and Island Chains Can occur in chains or ridges and often have an active volcanic island at one end. Hawaiian Islands are the best example.

C. Abyssal Plain The flat, smooth parts of the ocean floor Contains sediments originating mostly from the continents, Flattest places on Earth.

C. Abyssal Plain usually lies at the foot of the continental rise Flattest areas on the planet Not tectonically active

D. The Mid-Ocean Ridge System A long chain of mountains with a central rift valley that is located along a divergent boundary on the ocean floor Creates oceanic crust Longest mountain chain in the world. Covers about 1/3 of the ocean floor.

E. Island Arcs Island arcs are chains of volcanically active islands that parallel deep-sea trenches formed by subduction zones.

F. Continental Shelf Part of the continent that gently slopes from the shoreline to the continent’s edge. Some shelves stretch farther out into the ocean than others.

F. Continental Shelf The continental shelf extends from the shoreline outward toward the slope. Some shelves stretch farther out into the ocean than others. The topography of a shelf is very flat and the width varies. The Atlantic shelf is much wider than the Pacific NOT PART OF THE OCEAN FLOOR CONNECTS THE CONTINENT TO THE CONTINENTAL SLOPE

G. Deep Sea Trenches They are the deepest parts of the oceans Happens at subduction zones (Convergent Boundaries) Usually near a continent or volcanic island chain

G. Deep Sea Trenches IS LIKE A CANYON ON LAND Marianas Trench (11km) is the deepest in the world Also found at active continental margins like the west coast of the United States

H. Continental Rise The gently sloping surface at the base of the continental slope H

H. Continental Rise Lies at the base of the continental slope on oceanic crust and is generally several kilometers thick Only occurs at passive continental margins like the east coast of the U.S.

Now, color anything below the ocean blue, and anything above the water brown.