Oceanography Key Terms Chapter 4(Completely solved)
Sediments: terrigenous, marine correct answersTerrigenous - land producing, marine - water
Continental margin correct answersThe edges of the landmasses below ocean surface and the
steep slopes that descend to the sea floor. 2 types: Passive (little seismic or volcanic activity) and
active.
Continental shelf correct answersShallow extensions of the continents, gently sloping, extends
from shoreline to shelf break.
Continental slope correct answersThe sleep slope extending to the ocean basin floor. Change in
gradient (4˚) from shelf
Continental rise correct answersA gentle slop formed by the accumulation of sediment. Made up
of sediment deposited by turbidity currents, underwater landslides.
Submarine canyons correct answersRelatively narrow, V shaped, deep depression with steep
slopes, the bottom of which grades continuously downward across the continental slope. Cut by
turbidity currents.
Turbidity currents correct answersCurrents that are fast-moving avalanches of mud, sand, and
water.
Abyssal plain correct answersSpaces in between, flat deepest places, mostly in Atlantic and
Indian
Guyots correct answersFlattop mountains on ocean bottom.
Seamounts correct answersSteep sided volcanoes rising abruptly and sometimes piercing the
surface.
Fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls correct answersCoral reef development.
Mid-ocean ridge correct answersMountain chain down the middle of the Atlantic.
Trenches correct answersLong, deep, and narrow depression of the sea floor with relatively steep
sides, associated with a subduction zone.
Types of sediments: lithogenous, biogenous, hydrogenous, cosmogenous correct answersL-
sediment composed of rock particles eroded mainly from the continents by water, wind and
waves. B- sediment derived from organisms. H- sediment precipitated from substances dissolved
in seawater. C- sediment particles with an origin in outer space.
Diatoms correct answersMicroscopic unicellular alga with an external skeleton of silica.
Sediments: terrigenous, marine correct answersTerrigenous - land producing, marine - water
Continental margin correct answersThe edges of the landmasses below ocean surface and the
steep slopes that descend to the sea floor. 2 types: Passive (little seismic or volcanic activity) and
active.
Continental shelf correct answersShallow extensions of the continents, gently sloping, extends
from shoreline to shelf break.
Continental slope correct answersThe sleep slope extending to the ocean basin floor. Change in
gradient (4˚) from shelf
Continental rise correct answersA gentle slop formed by the accumulation of sediment. Made up
of sediment deposited by turbidity currents, underwater landslides.
Submarine canyons correct answersRelatively narrow, V shaped, deep depression with steep
slopes, the bottom of which grades continuously downward across the continental slope. Cut by
turbidity currents.
Turbidity currents correct answersCurrents that are fast-moving avalanches of mud, sand, and
water.
Abyssal plain correct answersSpaces in between, flat deepest places, mostly in Atlantic and
Indian
Guyots correct answersFlattop mountains on ocean bottom.
Seamounts correct answersSteep sided volcanoes rising abruptly and sometimes piercing the
surface.
Fringing reefs, barrier reefs, atolls correct answersCoral reef development.
Mid-ocean ridge correct answersMountain chain down the middle of the Atlantic.
Trenches correct answersLong, deep, and narrow depression of the sea floor with relatively steep
sides, associated with a subduction zone.
Types of sediments: lithogenous, biogenous, hydrogenous, cosmogenous correct answersL-
sediment composed of rock particles eroded mainly from the continents by water, wind and
waves. B- sediment derived from organisms. H- sediment precipitated from substances dissolved
in seawater. C- sediment particles with an origin in outer space.
Diatoms correct answersMicroscopic unicellular alga with an external skeleton of silica.
