THE STRUCTURE OF THE OCEAN FLOOR

The Continental Shelf:

A continental shelf is the flat land, located at the shoreline.
There is a one continental shelf in Arctic Ocean that extends 1000 KM

The Continental Slope:

This slope begins at the outer edge of continental shelf
The slope is very steep

The Continental Rise:

This rise which is at the end of the slope, consists of sediment that builds up from the
continental shelf and slope
Mid Ocean Ridges:
Mid ocean ridges are a chain of mountains that run throughout the world’s oceans along the
edges of the tectonic plates.
Most mountains of the mid ocean ridges rise about 1500 meters above the sea floor with
some peaks even tall enough to break the water surface from the island
North Atlantic and st Helena islands are formed by these peaks.
Abyssal Plains:

As the continental rise finishes, the abyssal plains come and these are flat due to the
movement of plate
Abyssal hills can also be see on plains
TRENCHES
This feature of the Ocean feature is extremely long and these form the deepest part of the
ocean
Trenches occur when one tectonic plate moves under another in a process called subduction
DEEPEST TRENCH:
1) Pacific Ocean
Marina Trench

VOLCANIC ACTIVITIES:
These produce single mountain with steep sides that often rise thousands meter above the sea
floor
A GUYOT
Is an ancient volcano with a highest point that has been flattened by erosion and then went
underwater
AN ISLAND ARC
Is a string of volcanic islands that are formed where two tectonic plates meet