Oceanography 1 Flashcards
oceanography
the study of the physical and biological properties of the seas/oceans
deep ocean basin
region of the ocean floor made of oceanic crust (deep)
continental margin
region of the ocean floor made out of continental crust (shallow)
ocean trench
a steep, long depression in the deep-sea floor that runs parallel to a chain of volcanic islands or a continental margin
midocean ridge
a long, undersea mountain chain that forms along the floor of the major oceans
rift valley
a long, narrow valley that forms as tectonic plates separate
seamount
a submerged mountain on the ocean floor that is at least 1000 m high and that has a volcanic origin
continental shelf
the gently sloping section of the continental margin located between the shoreline and the continental slope
continental slope
the steeply inclined section of the continental margin located between the continental rise and the continental shelf
continental rise
the gently sloping section of the continental margin located between the continental slope and the abyssal plain
abyssal plain
a large, flat, almost level area of the deep-ocean basin
echo-ranging
determination of the distance and direction of an object (as under water) by means of an echo (as of sound) returned by the object