How does the average depth of the ocean floor compare to elevation of land?
The ocean floors are about 4 times as deep on average than the average elevation of the continents above sea level.
What is the slope between the outer edge of the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor?
A continental slope is the slope between the outer edge of the continental shelf and the deep ocean floor. The continental slope is cut by submarine canyons in many locations.
At what latitude is the ratio of ocean water to land at its maximum?
At what latitude is the ratio of ocean water to land at its maximum? 60-65 degrees south.
What kind of seawater is the densest?
The densest ocean water is formed in two primary locations near the poles, where the water is very cold and highly saline as a result of ice formation. The densest deep water mass is formed in the Weddell Sea of Antarctica, and becomes the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW).
Why is the average elevation of continents higher than oceans?
Because average ocean water depth was 3.902 km, this puts the average continent surface elevation 680 m above the sea surface, which is 155 m less than the present value of elevation of 835 m, so that the average continent elevation relative to the sea surface is 155 m higher now than at 65 Ma.
How do the floors of ocean basins and continents differ?
Continental crust is mostly granite, a coarse-grained igneous rock, and oceanic crust is mostly basalt, a fine-grained igneous rock. Granite is rich in minerals containing silica and aluminum and basalt is rich in minerals containing iron and magnesium. Continental crust is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust.
How do the shelf and slope of an active continental margin differ from those of a passive margin?
How do the shelf and slope of an active continental margin differ from those of a passive continental margin? The slope of an active continental margin is significantly steeper because it is been compressed as subduction occurs (although accretionary prisms do develop.
Is the continental slope the deepest part of the ocean?
Ocean trenches The Mariana Trench, for example, is the deepest place in the ocean at 36,201 feet. Finally, you would ascend tens of thousands of feet back up the continental slope and across the continental shelf.
How much ocean is there compared to land?
About 97 percent of Earth's water is in the ocean. The ocean covers more than 70 percent of the surface of our planet. It's hard to imagine, but about 97 percent of the Earth's water can be found in our ocean.
How big is the ocean compared to land?
The spatial distribution of ocean regions and continents is unevenly arranged across the Earth's surface. In the Northern Hemisphere, the ratio of land to ocean is about 1 to 1.5….(o). Introduction to the Oceans.
| Surface | Atlantic Ocean |
|---|---|
| Percent of Earth's Total Surface Area | 20.8% |
| Area Square Kilometers | 76,762,000 |
| Area Square Miles | 29,630,000 |
How does sea water density vary with depth?
Density is lowest at the surface, where the water is the warmest. As depth increases, there is a region of rapidly increasing density with increasing depth, which is called the pycnocline . The pycnocline coincides with the thermocline , as it is the sudden decrease in temperature that leads to the increase in density.
Does water density increase with depth?
You can see density increases with increasing depth. The pycnocline are layers of water where the water density changes rapidly with depth. This density-depth profile is typical of what you might expect to find at a latitude of 30-40 degrees south. The density of pure water is 1000 kg/m3.
Which is greater the average depth of the ocean or the average height of the continents above the sea level?
The average height of the continents above sea level is greater than the average depth of the ocean. 97% found in ocean.
What is the average elevation of continents?
Today, all continents have great mountain ranges, vast plains, extensive plateaus, and complex river systems. The landmasses's average elevation above sea level is about 838 meters (2,750 feet).
How do the continents compare to the oceans?
Continents are large and continuous masses of land which are separated by expanses of water. Oceans are large water bodies in the Earth's atmosphere. Continental crust is thicker. The oceanic crust is thinner.
How does a deep ocean basin differ from the continental margin?
Continental margins – these are regions that extend from the coast across shallow shelf regions to the edge of continents where the seafloor descends into deep water. Deep-ocean basins – This includes parts of the oceans where deep water prevails. Deep ocean basins cover the greatest portion of the Earth's surface.
How do the shelf and slope of an active continental margin differ from those of a passive margin quizlet?
How do the shelf and slope of an active continental margin differ from those of a passive continental margin? The slope of an active continental margin is significantly steeper because it is been compressed as subduction occurs (although accretionary prisms do develop.
What is the difference between an active continental margin and a passive continental margin quizlet?
An active continental margin is found on the leading edge of the continent where it is crashing into an oceanic plate. Passive continental margins are found along the remaining coastlines.
Why are continents above sea level?
Hasterok says it has been well known for years that "elevations of different regions of the continents sit higher or lower relative to each other as a result of their density and thickness. Most elevation that we can observe at the surface is a result of the buoyancy of the crust and upper mantle."
What is the average depth of the ocean?
The average ocean depth is 3.7 kilometers (2.3 miles). That's 2.74 kilometers (1.7 miles) down! The average depth of the ocean is about 3,688 meters (12,100 feet).
How does the area of Earth’s surface covered by the oceans compare with that of the continents?
How does the area of Earth's surface covered by the oceans compare with that of the continents? 71% of Earth's surface is covered by oceans, the other 29% is made up of continents and islands. Contrast the distribution of land and water in the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.
How big is the Pacific ocean compared to the continents?
Covering more than 30 percent of the Earth's surface, the Pacific Ocean is the largest water mass on the planet. With a surface area of more than 155 million square kilometers (60 million square miles), this ocean basin is larger than the landmass of all the continents combined.
Why does density increase with depth?
The water molecules pack together tighter as pressure increases -the pressure increase with depth, due to the weight of the water above, and causes the greatest density changes in seawater with depth (greater than the density changes due to temperature and salinity changes).
How does the ocean change with increasing depth?
The deeper you go under the sea, the greater the pressure of the water pushing down on you. For every 33 feet (10.06 meters) you go down, the pressure increases by one atmosphere . Many animals that live in the sea have no trouble at all with high pressure.
How does density change with depth in the ocean?
As depth increases, there is a region of rapidly increasing density with increasing depth, which is called the pycnocline . The pycnocline coincides with the thermocline , as it is the sudden decrease in temperature that leads to the increase in density.
How does the average depth of the ocean basins below sea level compare with the average height of the continents above sea level?
How does the average depth of the oceans compare to the average elevation of the continents? The ocean floors are about four times as deep, on average, than the average elevation of the continents above sea level.
Is the highest continent in terms of average elevation?
Elevation. Antarctica is the highest continent on Earth: average elevation is 8,200ft (2500m).
Why are the pressure difference between continents and oceans?
Answer: WATER EXHIBITS VERY DIFFERENT thermal properties from those displayed by the rocks and soil of land. These differences in thermal properties cause oceans and land to warm and cool at different rates, leading to significant temperature variations between oceans and land.
How do continents differ from ocean basins?
General features. While the ocean basins lie much lower than sea level, the continents stand high—about 1 km (0.6 mile) above sea level. The physical explanation for this condition is that the continental crust is light and thick while the oceanic crust is dense and thin.
Why are the continents above the ocean floor?
While the ocean basins lie much lower than sea level, the continents stand high—about 1 km (0.6 mile) above sea level. The physical explanation for this condition is that the continental crust is light and thick while the oceanic crust is dense and thin.