Deep Sea Features
Hydrosphere Coverage:
● Hydrosphere covers 71% of Earth; lithosphere covers 29%.
● Only 2.05% of surface water is fresh; 97% is saline (oceans).
● Oceans merge into one another; geographers classify 5 oceans: Pacific, Atlantic,
Indian, Southern, Arctic.
● Seas, gulfs, bays are parts of these major oceans.
● Most of the ocean floor lies 3–6 km below sea level.
● Ocean floors contain the world’s largest mountains, plains, and deepest trenches
formed by volcanic, tectonic, and depositional processes.
Major Divisions of the Ocean Floor:
1. Continental Shelf
2. Continental Slope
3. Deep-Sea / Abyssal Plain
4. Oceanic Deeps / Trenches
1. Continental Shelf:
● Submerged margin of continents; very gentle slope (≈1°).
● Ends at shelf break.
● Average width: 80 km; can be narrow (Chile, Sumatra) or extremely wide (Siberian
Shelf – 1500 km).
● Depth varies 30–600 m.
● Thick sediment deposits → major fossil fuel zones.
Significance:
● Sunlight penetration → plankton growth → richest fishing grounds (Grand Banks,
North Sea, Sunda Shelf).
● Support major ports (London, Rotterdam, Singapore).
● Provide petroleum, natural gas, manganese nodules.
2. Continental Slope:
● Connects shelf to deep ocean basins.
● Steeper gradient 2–5°.
● Depth: 200–3000 m.
● Marks the true boundary of continents.
● Contains submarine canyons and trenches.
3. Continental Rise:
● Transition zone between slope and abyssal plain.
● Gentle slope 0.5–1°.
● Formed by accumulated sediments.
4. Deep-Sea Plain / Abyssal Plain:
● Flat ocean floor between 3000–6000 m.
● Cover >50% of Earth’s surface.
● Found between continental rise and mid-ocean ridges.
● Host features like plateaus, ridges, islands (Azores, Ascension).
● Covered by fine deposits (clay, silt).
5. Oceanic Deeps / Trenches:
● Deepest, narrow, steep-sided depressions formed at convergent plate boundaries
(ocean–ocean or ocean–continent).
● Typically 3–5 km deeper than the surrounding ocean floor.
● Common in the Pacific Ocean (Ring of Fire).
● Examples-
● Mariana Trench – deepest (11 km).
● Mindanao Trench – 35,000 ft.
● Tonga Trench – 31,000 ft.
● Japan Trench – 28,000 ft.
Oceanic Deposits:
Based on Origin
1. Terrigenous – from land (rivers, wind); largest near shelf & slope.
2. Hydrogenous – formed in seawater (salts, organic matter).
3. Cosmic – extraterrestrial dust (very small %, e.g., tektites).
Types of Deposits
● Oozes (biogenic sediments)
– Calcareous oozes: up to 2500 m depth.
– Siliceous oozes: found below 2500 m.
● Pelagic deposits – fine deep-ocean sediments.
● Clays (e.g., red clay in Pacific) – from volcanic dust.
Minor Relief Features:
1. Mid-Oceanic Ridges:
● Underwater mountain chains with a central rift.
● Peaks rise up to 2500 m; some emerge above sea (Iceland).
● Formed at divergent boundaries.
2. Seamounts:
● Underwater volcanic mountains do not reach the surface.
● Height: 3000–4500 m (e.g., Emperor Seamounts).
3. Submarine Canyons:
● Deep valleys cutting across continental slopes and shelves.
● Often at river mouths (e.g., Hudson Canyon).
4. Guyots:
● Flat-topped seamounts—eroded and submerged.
5. Atolls:
● Ring-shaped coral reefs enclosing a lagoon (tropical oceans).
6. Bank:
● Flat-topped elevation on continental margins (Dogger Bank, Grand Bank).
● Excellent fishing grounds.
7. Shoal:
● Shallow submerged sandbank; dangerous for navigation.
8. Reef:
● Organic deposition by coral or other organisms.
● Largest reef: Great Barrier Reef (Australia).
Estuary vs Delta:
● Estuary – Tidal, where river meets sea; mixes freshwater & seawater.
● Delta – Triangular deposit at river mouth formed by sediment deposition.
Lagoon vs Estuary:
● Lagoon – Shallow water body separated from sea by a reef/barrier.
● Estuary – Semi-enclosed coastal water body with river + free connection to sea.