Oceans

Ocean Morphology

Key features

Continental shelf

Abyssal plain

Oceanic trench

Reach/Ridge

Guyot

Seamount

Rift valley

Formed when two plates move away from one another (constructive plate margin)

Slower than ridge formation > Magma wells up at the sides, creating a valley

Older undersea volcano

Eroded when it was above sea level

Rounded peak

Formed in subduction zone

Oceanic crust forced down by continental crust, but doesn't get filled by magma

Mostly flat terrain

Guyots and seamounts

Sunlight, life (fish and coral)

Oil + gas

Biotic + abiotic resources

Gold/silver - precious metals

eg. Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Formed when two plates move away from one another (constructive margin)

Magma wells up from the 'gap'

Younger undersea volcano

More active/sharp and pointy peak

Thermohaline Circulation
Model/Oceanic Conveyor Belts

Functions

How it works

Heat transfer and climate regulation

Mineral and nutrients transfer across the globe

Cold water sinks at the Artic

More dense and has higher salt concentration