the ocean basins. five major oceans arctic pacific indianatlantic southern
TRANSCRIPT
The Ocean Basins
Five Major OceansArctic
Pacific IndianAtlantic
Southern
Five Major OceansAtlantic – 2nd largest & youngest ocean (3.3km average depth)
Pacific – 1st largest & deepest ocean (3.9km average depth)
Indian – 3rd largest ocean (3.8km average depth)
Five Major OceansArctic – the smallest & shallowest ocean (1.4 km average depth)
Southern – 4th largest ocean; surrounds Antarctica (3.8km average depth)
What is a sea?
Small area of the ocean that is
partially surrounded by
land
The Seven Seas
Numerous seas – they are all considered part of an ocean
Exploring our Oceans
• Oceanography is the study of the physical characteristics, chemical composition and life forms of the ocean.
What are Submersibles?
•Underwater research vessels
The Alvin
The Jason
SONAR• Important to help map ocean floor•Sound Navigation and Ranging
transmitterreceiver
How SONAR works… ocean
surface
ocean floor
Differences in the time it takes for the sound waves to leave the boat and then return tell scientists how deep the ocean bottom is.
Features of the Ocean Basins•Continental margin: portion of
ocean made up of continental crust
Features of the Ocean Basins• continental shelf: flat part of
continental margin covered by shallow ocean water
Formed by changes in sea levelAvg depth = 60 m
Features of the Ocean Basins•continental slope: boundary
between continental crust and oceanic
Features of the Ocean Basins•submarine canyons: deep, v-
shaped valley that cuts through shelf & slope
Features of the Ocean Basins•continental rise: wedge of
sediments that separates slope from ocean floor
Features of the Ocean Basins•abyssal plain: large flat area on
the ocean floor
Features of the Ocean Basins•seamount: underwater volcanic
mountain (1000m)
Features of the Ocean Basins•guyot: a flat-topped submerged
seamount
Features of the Ocean Basins• trench: deep narrow valleys along
the edges of ocean floor
Marianas Trench in Pacific ocean is 36,000 ft deep (6mi) – deepest
point
Features of the Ocean Basins•mid-ocean ridge: mountain range
on ocean floor
Features of the Ocean Basins• rift valley: deep crevice in between
mountain ranges
Features of the Ocean Basins
•coral reef: limestone structures containing shells of animals that surround volcanic islands