Review - Ocean and Ocean Floor Key

These flashcards review key vocabulary and concepts related to the ocean and ocean floor for the upcoming test.

Ocean Floor

The bottom of the ocean, including various features such as continental shelves, slopes, abyssal plains, mid-ocean ridges, and ocean trenches.

Continental Shelf

The submerged border of a continent that extends into the ocean, typically characterized by shallow waters.

Mid-Ocean Ridge

An underwater mountain range formed by plate tectonics, where new oceanic crust is created.

Abyssal Plain

The flat, featureless area of the ocean floor that lies at depths of about 3,000 to 6,000 meters.

Ocean Trench

A deep, steep-sided valley in the ocean floor that is typically the result of subduction where one tectonic plate moves under another.