How are continental margins different from deep ocean basins?

Continental margins – these are regions that extend from the coast across shallow shelf regions to the edge of continents where the seafloor descends into deep water. Deep-ocean basins – This includes parts of the oceans where deep water prevails. Deep ocean basins cover the greatest portion of the Earth’s surface.

What is the difference between the continental shelf continental slope and ocean basin?

A continental shelf is the edge of a continent that lies under the ocean. A continental shelf extends from the coastline of a continent to a drop-off point called the shelf break. From the break, the shelf descends toward the deep ocean floor in what is called the continental slope.

How can we observe what the surface of the ocean floor looks like when it is so deep?

It turns out that satellites can “see” below the sea surface. With careful processing, small differences in sea surface heights and gravity can reveal detailed maps of the seafloor.

What is the relationship of the various features of the continental margin to the transition from continental crust to oceanic crust?

Continental margins refer to the region of transition from the land to the deep seafloor, i.e. between continental and oceanic crust . In an active continental margin , the boundary between the continent and the ocean is also a tectonic plate boundary, so there is a lot of geological activity around the margin.

How are continental margins and oceanic basins shaped?

Continental margins on the trailing side of tectonic plates, like those around the Atlantic Ocean, are broad, with gentle continental slopes and well-developed continental rises. As the glaciers retreat, more water is fed to the ocean basins and the sea level rises.

What are the two types of continental margins and how do they differ?

There are two types of continental margins: active and passive margins. Active margins are typically associated with lithospheric plate boundaries. These active margins can be convergent or transform margins, and are also places of high tectonic activity, including volcanoes and earthquakes.

What do all ocean basins have?

Together they contain the overwhelming majority of all water on the planet and have an average depth of almost 4 km (about 2.5 miles). A number of major features of the basins depart from this average—for example, the mountainous ocean ridges, deep-sea trenches, and jagged, linear fracture zones.

What are 3 types of ocean currents?

In this article we look at how ocean currents affect climate, the importance of ocean currents, and the types, causes, and effects of ocean currents.

• Surface Currents.
• Deep-water Currents. Vertical Currents.
• Upwelling.
• Downwelling.

What are the features of ocean basins describe each?

A number of major features of the basins depart from this average—for example, the mountainous ocean ridges, deep-sea trenches, and jagged, linear fracture zones. Other significant features of the ocean floor include aseismic ridges, abyssal hills, and seamounts and guyots.

What causes ocean basins to form?

The ocean basins are formed when the continents break apart and the magma from the mantle starts to fill the space. The ocean floor is created as the magma cools and the plates move around on the surface of the Earth.

What feature of the continental margin is closest to ocean basins?

The CONTINENTAL SLOPE, as its name implies, is the sloping edge of the continent as it merges into the deep ocean basin.

What are the characteristics of the continental margins?

As indicated by the name, continental margins are the edges of the continents and transition into the deep-water environments of the ocean basins. In general, continental margins have several distinct physiographic sub environments, including continental shelf, continental slope and continental rise (Figure 2.3).

How are continental margins and varied geomorphology closely related to sediment deposition?

The types of continental margins and varied geomorphology are closely related to the pattern of modern sediment deposition. The coastal environments are a boundary condition controlling passage of sediments from the continent into the shelf environment. After the coastal environments are filled, sediments start bypassing to the shelf.

Why are the Atlantic and Gulf coasts passive continental margins?

The Atlantic and Gulf coasts are passive continental margins because they lack the high levels of earthquake, volcanic, and mountain-building forces characteristic of active continental margins (such as the current U. S. West Coast) that are right at plate boundaries.

What is an open margin in geology?

Open margins are receiving areas for sediment produced on the platform top and moved by storms. These are usually characterized by extensive sand deposits , which often bury reefs that were able to flourish when sea level was lower and the updrift bank was exposed (i.e. the updrift supply of sediment was shut off).