THE SHAPE OF SEAFLOOR

Trujillo and Thurman 10^th, Chapter 3; be sure to read Box 3.3 (recovering stuck equipment); omit section 3.2 (hypsographic curve) and other boxes

Objectives: Students should be able to:

1. Describe the characteristics (in detail) of continental margins, the deep ocean basins, the mid-ocean ridges, and deep-sea trenches

2. Discuss the influence that plate tectonics has on these characteristics

Continental margins- edges of the continental block

· passive vs. active margins

· continental shelf

· continental slope: submarine canyons

· continental rise

Deep ocean basins:

· abyssal plain

· seamounts, and tablemounts (guyots)

Mid-ocean ridges and rises (MORs)

· Rift valley

· Pillow lavas

· Hydrothermal vents: warm water vents, white smokers, black smokers

· Fracture zones and transform faults: know their relationship to MORs

Deep-sea trenches

· Often associated with volcanic island arcs