Powerpoint Presentation Physical Geology, 10ePowerPoint演示物理地质学10E.pptVIP

Tim Horner CSUS Geology Department The Sea FloorPhysical Geology, Chapter 18 Features of the Sea Floor Passive continental margins have a continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise descending to the abyssal plain Active continental margins have continental shelves and slopes, but the slope extends down into a deep oceanic trench A mid-oceanic ridge system encircles the globe, typically running down the center of oceans Numerous conical seamounts rise from the deep ocean floor Continental Shelves and Slopes Continental shelves - gently (0.1°) seaward-sloping shallow submarine platforms at the edges of continents Range in width from a few km to 500 km Typically covered with young sediments Continental slopes - relatively steep slopes (typically 4-5°, but locally much steeper) that extend down from the edge of the continental shelf to the abyssal plain Continental Shelves and Slopes Submarine canyons - V-shaped valleys that run across continental shelves and down continental slopes Deliver continental sediments to abyssal fans on deep sea floor, sometimes by turbidity currents Continental Rises and Abyssal Plains Continental rises - gently seaward-sloping (0.5°) wedges of sediments extending from base of continental slope to deep sea floor Sediment deposited by turbidity and contour currents End at abyssal plain at depth of about 5 km Lie upon oceanic crust Abyssal plains - extremely flat regions beyond the base of the continental rise Flattest features on Earth, with slopes 0.01° Form where sufficient turbidity currents exist to completely bury rugged topography Oceanic Trenches An oceanic trench is a narrow, deep trough parallel to the edge of a continent or an island arc Deepest parts of the oceans Benioff zone earthquake foci begin at trenches and dip landward under continents or island arcs Volcanoes found above upper part of Benioff zone arranged in long belts parallel to trenches Marked by very low heat flow and