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Difficulty: EasyWater Cycle and Oceanography

Oceanographers classify the marine seafloor into distinct geological structures shaped by tectonic activity and sedimentation. Match each seafloor feature on the left with its defining physical characteristic on the right.

  • Continental shelfA shallow, gently sloping region extending outward from the edge of a continent.
  • Abyssal plainA vast, extraordinarily flat expanse of the deep ocean floor covered by fine sediment.
  • Ocean trenchA steep-sided, extremely deep depression formed where one tectonic plate sinks beneath another.
  • Mid-ocean ridgeAn underwater mountain chain formed along divergent boundaries where tectonic plates pull apart.

Answer

Continental shelf matches the shallow, gently sloping region extending outward from the continent; Abyssal plain matches the vast, extraordinarily flat deep ocean floor; Ocean trench matches the steep-sided, extremely deep depression formed by subduction; Mid-ocean ridge matches the underwater mountain chain formed where tectonic plates pull apart.
Each seafloor feature matches its defining geological and topographic characteristic: continental shelves are shallow coastal borders, abyssal plains are flat deep basins, trenches are deep subduction troughs, and mid-ocean ridges are divergent volcanic mountain chains.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the shallowest coastal seafloor zone.
The continental shelf is identified as the shallow, gently sloping zone adjacent to the continental landmass.
Continental shelves are the immediate submerged margins of continents.
2
Identify the flat, sediment-covered deep ocean floor.
The abyssal plain is identified as the expansive, flat region of the deep ocean basin.
Sediment accumulation over millions of years levels out the underlying basaltic crust.
3
Identify the deepest oceanic depressions.
The ocean trench is identified as the narrow, deep chasm formed by subduction.
Subducting plates bend downward, creating the deepest zones in the ocean.
4
Identify the underwater volcanic mountain chain.
The mid-ocean ridge is identified as the continuous mountain chain created by divergent boundaries.
Seafloor spreading at divergent boundaries allows magma to upwell and create new oceanic crust.

Key Concept

Major Topographic Features of the Ocean Basin
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Water Cycle and Oceanography

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