Ocean Study Guide

1.           Sediments are deposits of mud, slime and ooze that cover the ocean floor.

2.           Muds and clays are formed by inorganic sediments.

3.           Organic sediments are made from the remains of protists or other living things. They form the ooze in the deepest parts of the ocean.

4.           Sediments reach the ocean because of rivers carrying bits of eroded rock and soil or from volcanic activity.

5.           As glaciers meet the oceans, pieces break off and form icebergs.

6.           Bits of rock and soil, as well as debris from volcanoes and meteors, form mud and clay.

7.           Submersibles are self-propelled underwater craft.

8. Turbidity currents cause sediments to build up more in some places than others.

9. Inorganic sediments are thickest near the mouths of rivers and streams.

10. 71% of the earth is covered by oceans.

11. Most ocean currents originate from the equator.

12. Currents are responsible for moving water from place to place. There are 2 major currents affecting the USA:

A. Gulf Stream Current along the east coast. The Gulf Stream Current is warmer because the water comes from the equator.

B. California Current along the west coast. The California Current is colder because the water is from the north.

13. Waves move water up and down.

14. Earthquakes and wind are 2 things that cause waves

15. Mapping the ocean floor is done by sonar.

16. Ocean ridges are formed from beginning volcanoes.

17. The Exxon Valdez spilt millions of gallons of oil into the ocean near Alaska. The oil spills are very difficult to clean up.

18. Salinity means saltiness.

Vocabulary:

An abyssal plain is a sediment-covered plain about 3,500-5,500 m (11,500-18,000 ft.) below sea level.

A continental shelf is a continent's submerged and gently sloping rim, descending to about 200 m (650 ft.).

A continental slope is a steep slope, descending from the continental shelf.

A continental rise is a gentle slope below the continental slope.

A guyot is a flat-topped seamount that had once been a volcanic island.

An island arc is a curved row of volcanic islands, usually on the continental side of a trench.

A seamount is a submarine volcano 1,000 m (3,3000 ft.) or more above its surroundings.

A spreading ridge is a submarine mountain chain about 3,000 m (10,000 ft.) above the abyssal plain.

A submarine canyon is a deep cleft in the continental slope, cut by turbid river water flowing out to sea.

A submarine plateau is a high seafloor tableland.

A trench is a deep, steep-sided trough in an abyssal plain.