GuyotGuyot A seamount with a flat top due to A seamount with a flat top due to

erosion by waves, winds, and erosion by waves, winds, and atmospheric processes. atmospheric processes.

Guyot tops are always below the Guyot tops are always below the ocean surface. ocean surface.

Also called a table mount.Also called a table mount. Commonly found in the Pacific Commonly found in the Pacific

Ocean. Ocean.

HeadlandHeadland A cape or other landform jutting A cape or other landform jutting

into the ocean. into the ocean. usually high above water and usually high above water and

prominent when viewed from the prominent when viewed from the sea. sea.

It gets its name from the practice of It gets its name from the practice of sailors using such features to take sailors using such features to take their bearings or “headings”.their bearings or “headings”.

IslandIslandA landmass smaller than a continent A landmass smaller than a continent

and surrounded by water.and surrounded by water.

Island ChainIsland Chain A group of islands formed by the A group of islands formed by the

same geological process same geological process Also called Also called

an archipelagoan archipelago

http://www.stanford.edu/group/Vitousek/flashchain.html

IsthmusIsthmus

A narrow strip of land connecting A narrow strip of land connecting two larger landmasses.two larger landmasses.

LagoonLagoon

A shallow body of relatively quiet water A shallow body of relatively quiet water almost completely cut off from the open almost completely cut off from the open ocean by coral reefs, barrier islands or ocean by coral reefs, barrier islands or

barrier beaches.barrier beaches.

Ocean BasinOcean Basin may be anywhere on Earth that is may be anywhere on Earth that is

covered by saltwater, but covered by saltwater, but geologically ocean basins are large geologically ocean basins are large basins that are below sea level. basins that are below sea level.

A large depression in the A large depression in the earth’s crust that holds the earth’s crust that holds the water of an ocean.water of an ocean.

Ocean RidgeOcean Ridge A long continuous mountain range A long continuous mountain range

on the seafloor. on the seafloor. often of volcanic origin at a point of often of volcanic origin at a point of

or line of separation in the earth’s or line of separation in the earth’s crust.crust.

Ocean TrenchOcean Trench A deep cut or trench in the seafloorA deep cut or trench in the seafloor

deepest part of the ocean floordeepest part of the ocean floor Usually close to where continental Usually close to where continental

shelves and seafloors meet.shelves and seafloors meet.

PeninsulaPeninsula A piece of land almost completely A piece of land almost completely

surrounded by water. surrounded by water. usually connected to a larger land usually connected to a larger land

body by a narrow land strip called body by a narrow land strip called an an isthmusisthmus

PointPoint The narrow tip-end of a cape, The narrow tip-end of a cape,

headland, peninsula or other land headland, peninsula or other land feature jutting into a body of water.feature jutting into a body of water.

ReefReef A shallow rock or coral formation often exposed at A shallow rock or coral formation often exposed at

low tide.low tide. fringing reeffringing reef: forms along the shore: forms along the shore barrier reefbarrier reef: an offshore coral ridge: an offshore coral ridge

SeamountSeamount A mountain rising from the ocean A mountain rising from the ocean

seafloor that does not reach to the seafloor that does not reach to the water's surface and thus is not an water's surface and thus is not an island. island.

An isolated undersea hill or An isolated undersea hill or mountain. mountain.

It is usually in the form It is usually in the form of a cone. of a cone.

ShoalShoalAn area of the ocean such as a An area of the ocean such as a

sandbar that is too shallow to sandbar that is too shallow to navigatenavigate

SoundSound A wide waterway connecting two larger A wide waterway connecting two larger

bodies of water. bodies of water. It may be a body of water between the It may be a body of water between the

mainland and an offshore island.mainland and an offshore island.

StraightStraightA long, narrow water passage connecting A long, narrow water passage connecting

two larger bodies of water.two larger bodies of water.

Submarine CanyonSubmarine Canyon Deep canyon cut into the continental Deep canyon cut into the continental

shelf and slope shelf and slope Often at the mouth (extensions) of a Often at the mouth (extensions) of a

large river.large river.