Part I – Features of the Ocean Floor
Deep Ocean Basin Oceanic crust and thin sediment layer
Continental Margins Shallower portions of the ocean floor made of continental crust and a thick wedge of sediment
Features of Continental Margins Continental shelf – part of the continent covered by ocean water/ gently slopes from shore line Continental slope – steeper than the continental shelf and is the boundary between the oceanic crust and continental crust Continental rise – raised wedge of sediment at the base of the continental slope
Other Features Submarine canyons – deep “V” shaped valleys found cut into the continental shelf Turbidity currents – strong currents underwater that carry sediment down the continental slope.
Turbidity Currents strong currents underwater that carry sediment down the continental slope.
Deep Ocean Basins Trenches – Subduction Zones
Abyssal Plains Flattest regions on earth
Mid-Ocean Ridges Divergent Boundary – ocean crust
Seamounts Underwater volcanoes
Guyots Flattened seamounts
Ocean Exploration Oceanography – study of the physical characteristics, chemical composition, and life forms of the ocean
Matthew Maury American Naval officer Used Navy ship records to learn about ocean currents, winds, depths, and weather conditions Published observations in one of the first textbooks about oceanography
H.M.S. Challenger Group of scientists laid the foundation for modern oceanography Voyage across Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Ocean Gathered data on Water temperature at various depths Samples of ocean water Samples of sediment Samples of marine life
JOIDES Resolution World’s largest and most sophisticated scientific drilling ship Studied plate tectonics Studied the ocean floor
Submersibles Jason Jr. Submarine robot Photographed and collect mineral samples from the ocean floor
Bathysphere Spherical diving vessel for deep ocean exploration Carried scientists Steel cables connect to vessel for life support systems and communication LIMITED
Bathyscaphe Self-propelled, free moving submarine for deep ocean research Alvin 1 pilot, 2 scientists Found giant clams, blind white crabs, giant tube worms, and other strange creatures living at temperatures and depths life was thought not to exist Hydrothermal vents along Mid-Ocean Ridges
Robot Submersibles Great depths and longer periods of time – seamounts and submarine canyons Argo Seeing-eye robot Robert Ballard located remains of the Titanic in deep water off the coast of Newfoundland. The Titanic sank in Jason Jr. Toured inside sunken Titanic
SONAR Sound Navigation and Ranging