Structure Of Ocean Floor Information

Plate tectonics and the ocean floor bathymetry the shape of the ocean floor is largely a result of a process called plate tectonics.

Structure of ocean floor information.

Three quarters of the earth consists of ocean water. The ocean floor has the same general character as the land areas of the world. These divisions are continental margins deep sea basins and mid ocean ridges. When we speak of the topography of the ocean floor we mean the various shapes that the bottom of the ocean can take.

The outer rocky layer of the earth includes about a dozen large sections called tectonic plates that are arranged like a spherical jig saw puzzle floating on top of the earth s hot flowing mantle. Its average depth is about 3 688 meters 12 100 ft and its maximum depth is 10 994 meters 6 831 mi at the mariana trench. Like dry land the ocean floor has various features including flat plains sharp mountains and rugged canyons fig. The ocean floor covers more than 70 percent of the planet s surface.

Science has established that the topography of the ocean floor is similar to the ground topography with features such as valleys mountains and plateaus. However the lowest point in the world ocean is much deeper than the highest point on land. Ocean floor configuration divisions of the ocean floors an oceanic basin is the land surface under an ocean that includes the topography under the water. Continental margin and oceanic divisions.

The average depth of the ocean is around 14000 feet which is equal to the statue of liberty stacked one top of itself forty seven times sc 1. Nearly half of the world s marine waters are over 3 000 meters 9 800 ft deep. Mountains plains channels canyons exposed rocks and sediment covered areas. Here are 15 crazy facts about the ocean floor.

The vast expanses of deep ocean anything below 200 meters or 660 feet cover about 66 of earth s surface. If mount everest was placed in the deepest part of the ocean its peak would be covered by over 7000 feet of seawater. All these details are incorporated on underwater topography maps. Ocean floor configuration the ocean floor may be segmented into three major divisions based on the depth as well as the forms of relief.

The ocean floor is continually being formed and destroyed.