Oceanology Study Sheet: Key Concepts and Terms

Outer Rigid Mantle

The uppermost layer of the Earth's mantle.

Lithosphere

Rigid outer layer of the Earth, includes crust.

Asthenosphere

Semi-fluid layer beneath the lithosphere.

Mesosphere

Lower mantle, more solid than the asthenosphere.

Outer Core

Liquid layer surrounding the inner core.

Inner Core

Solid, dense center of the Earth.

Continental Crust

Thicker crust primarily composed of granite.

Granite

Light-colored, coarse-grained igneous rock.

Oceanic Crust

Thinner crust primarily composed of basalt.

Basalt

Dark, fine-grained volcanic rock.

Oceanology

Study of ocean systems and processes.

Oceanography

Scientific study of oceans and their phenomena.

Ocean Basin

Depressed areas of the Earth's surface filled with water.

Pericontinental Sea

Shallow sea surrounding continental landmasses.

Epicontinental Sea

Shallow sea that covers continental crust.

Geolithosphere

Earth's solid outer layer, including crust and mantle.

Moho Discontinuity

Boundary between Earth's crust and mantle.

Geothermal Gradient

Rate of temperature increase with depth in Earth.

Plate Tectonics

Theory explaining movement of Earth's lithospheric plates.

Continental Drift

Movement of continents over geological time.

Subduction

Process where one plate moves under another.

Hot Spots

Volcanic regions fed by underlying mantle plumes.

Paleomagnetism

Study of Earth's past magnetic field through rocks.

Turbidity Current

Underwater current of sediment-laden water.

Submarine Canyon

Deep, steep-sided valley cut into the ocean floor.

Abyssal Plain

Flat, deep ocean floor areas.

Fringe Reef

Shallow reef directly attached to a shore.

Barrier Reef

Reef separated from the shore by a lagoon.

Atoll

Ring-shaped coral reef surrounding a lagoon.

Rift Valley

Lowland region formed by tectonic plate divergence.

Transform Edge

Boundary where plates slide past each other.

Convection Cell

Circular movement of fluid driven by heat.