What is the submerged outer edge of a continent?
What is the submerged outer edge of a continent?
The continental margin is the submerged outer edge of a continent. It is generally divided into two sections: the continental shelf and the continental slope. The continental shelf is the region that extends seaward from the shoreline to a sharp drop-off that marks the beginning of the continental slope.
Where does the continental shelf end?
Structure. A continental shelf typically extends from the coast to depths of 100–200 metres (330–660 feet). It is gently inclined seaward at an average slope of about 0.1°. In nearly all instances, it ends at its seaward edge with an abrupt drop called the shelf break.
What are 2 types of continental margins?
There are two types of continental margins: active and passive margins. Active margins are typically associated with lithospheric plate boundaries. These active margins can be convergent or transform margins, and are also places of high tectonic activity, including volcanoes and earthquakes.
What is the difference between an active and a passive continental margin?
An active continental margin is found on the leading edge of the continent where it is crashing into an oceanic plate. Passive continental margins are found along the remaining coastlines.
What are the 3 parts of a continental margin?
The continental margins consist of three portions: (1) the continental shelf which has shallow water depths rarely deeper than 650 ft) and extends seaward from the shoreline to distances ranging from 12.3 miles to 249 miles, (2) the continental slope where the bottom drops off to depths of up to 3.1 miles, and (3) the …
What would be created when two plates under the ocean collide with each other?
A subduction zone is also generated when two oceanic plates collide — the older plate is forced under the younger one — and it leads to the formation of chains of volcanic islands known as island arcs.
What is the steepest part of the continental margin?
The shelf break averages about 135 m deep. After the shelf break, the seafloor takes on a steeper angle (about 4o) as it descends to the deep ocean. This steeper portion of the margin is the continental slope , and it extends from the shelf break down to 3000-5000m.
Which part of the ocean floor is steepest?
continental slope
What is the most biologically rich part of the ocean?
Continental Margins
How are abyssal plains formed?
Abyssal plains result from the blanketing of an originally uneven surface of oceanic crust by fine-grained sediments, mainly clay and silt. Much of this sediment is deposited by turbidity currents that have been channelled from the continental margins along submarine canyons into deeper water.
What lives in the abyssal plains?
Animals that commonly occur in abyssal sediments include molluscs, worms (nematodes, sipunculids, polychaetes, hemichordates and vestimentiferans) and echinoderms (holothuroids, asteroids, ophiuroids, echinoids, and crinoids).
How deep is abyssal plain?
10,000 feet
Which is the longest water body in the world?
Pacific Ocean
Which is bigger gulf or bay?
The difference between a bay and a gulf is not clearly defined, but the term bay usually refers to a body of water somewhat smaller than a gulf. Numerous exceptions, however, are found throughout the world, such as the Bay of Bengal, which is larger than the Gulf of Mexico and about the same size as the Arabian Sea.
What is the deepest bay in the world?
Bay of Bengal
Are bays part of oceans?
A bay is a recessed, coastal body of water that directly connects to a larger main body of water, such as an ocean, a lake, or even another bay. A large bay is usually called a gulf, sea, sound, or bight. A bay can be the estuary of a river, such as the Chesapeake Bay, an estuary of the Susquehanna River.
What is the biggest bay in the United States?
Chesapeake Bay