Question 1

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover about 25% of the surface of Earth. What are the characteristics of each of these features?

Accepted Answer

About 25% of the surface of the Earth is covered by abyssal hills and plains. Abyssal plains are extraordinarily flat expanses of the ocean floor consisting of layers of sediment. Most of the sediment layers originated from shallow water or continental margins, and in some areas can be over 1000 meters thick. Abyssal plains lie between 3,700 and 5,500 meters beneath the surface, and are located between the continental margins and oceanic ridges. In some areas, the sediment layer may not be thick enough to cover the basaltic oceanic floor, especially near the edges of the ridges. In these areas, small abyssal hills are formed as sediment covers extinct volcanoes that once spewed molten rock. Abyssal hills are usually only about 200 meters high and are most commonly associated with sea floor spreading areas. They form when newly formed crust moves away from the center of a ridge, stretches, and cracks. Some blocks of the crust drop to form valleys, and others remain higher as hills.

Question 2

One of the widest and thickest continental rises is found ____.

Accepted Answer

A) in the Red Sea 
B) in the Pacific at the active margin called the "Ring of Fire" 
C) in the Bay of Bengal 
D) off the east coast of Florida 
A) in the Red Sea 
B) in the Pacific at the active margin called the "Ring of Fire" 
C) in the Bay of Bengal 
D) off the east coast of Florida C

Question 3

Intense offshore drilling for oil and gas takes place primarily on the ____.

Accepted Answer

A) abyssal plain 
B) continental shelf 
C) continental rise 
D) Mid-Atlantic Ridge 
A) abyssal plain 
B) continental shelf 
C) continental rise 
D) Mid-Atlantic Ridge B

Question 4

Where is the widest continental shelf located?

Accepted Answer

A) The Arctic Sea north of Siberia 
B) The western edge of South America 
C) The margin surrounding the Hawaiian Islands 
D) The Emperor Seamounts 
A) The Arctic Sea north of Siberia 
B) The western edge of South America 
C) The margin surrounding the Hawaiian Islands 
D) The Emperor Seamounts

Question 5

The deep-ocean basin includes which of the following features?

Accepted Answer

A) continental shelf 
B) coral reefs 
C) abyssal plains 
D) the shelf break 
A) continental shelf 
B) coral reefs 
C) abyssal plains 
D) the shelf break

Question 6

The Emperor Sea Mounts are found in the ____.

Accepted Answer

A) Sagasso Sea 
B) South Pacific 
C) North West Pacific 
D) coastal region of Australia 
A) Sagasso Sea 
B) South Pacific 
C) North West Pacific 
D) coastal region of Australia

Question 7

The mid-ocean mountains, such as the ridges and rises, are ____.

Accepted Answer

A) similar in origin to the Alps, the Rockies, and the Appalachians 
B) composed of folded and faulted marine sedimentary rocks 
C) constructed of volcanic basalt 
D) similar in size and features to most continental mountains 
A) similar in origin to the Alps, the Rockies, and the Appalachians 
B) composed of folded and faulted marine sedimentary rocks 
C) constructed of volcanic basalt 
D) similar in size and features to most continental mountains

Question 8

The apron of accumulated sediment at the base of the continental slope is known as the ____.

Accepted Answer

A) continental rise 
B) abyssal hills 
C) abyssal plains 
D) mid-ocean mountains 
A) continental rise 
B) abyssal hills 
C) abyssal plains 
D) mid-ocean mountains

Question 9

The landscape of the seafloor away from the continental margins could best be described as ____.

Accepted Answer

A) a single featureless plain 
B) a smooth descent with the deepest portions farthest from land 
C) similar in rock type, sediment thickness, and erosional processes to those found on the land 
D) oceanic ridge systems and huge abyssal plains with hills, volcanoes, and trenches 
A) a single featureless plain 
B) a smooth descent with the deepest portions farthest from land 
C) similar in rock type, sediment thickness, and erosional processes to those found on the land 
D) oceanic ridge systems and huge abyssal plains with hills, volcanoes, and trenches

Question 10

The submerged outer edge of a continent is called the ____.

Accepted Answer

A) abyssal plain 
B) continental margin 
C) ocean basin 
D) continental convergence zone 
A) abyssal plain 
B) continental margin 
C) ocean basin 
D) continental convergence zone

Question 11

The origin of submarine canyons is not well understood, but is most likely to be ____.

Accepted Answer

A) erosional, caused by a combination of stream erosion and turbidity currents 
B) tectonic, representing down-folds of rock within the continental shelf 
C) organic, resulting from the activities of burrowing organisms 
D) glacial, through the process of depositing rock debris on the shelf 
A) erosional, caused by a combination of stream erosion and turbidity currents 
B) tectonic, representing down-folds of rock within the continental shelf 
C) organic, resulting from the activities of burrowing organisms 
D) glacial, through the process of depositing rock debris on the shelf

Question 12

Water depth over continental shelves averages only about ____.

Accepted Answer

A) 16 meters(50 feet) 
B) 35 meters(115 feet) 
C) 75 meters (250 feet) 
D) 100 meters (300 feet) 
A) 16 meters(50 feet) 
B) 35 meters(115 feet) 
C) 75 meters (250 feet) 
D) 100 meters (300 feet)

Question 13

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover a quarter of Earth's surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

How can a satellite sense the contours of the ocean bottom from space?

Accepted Answer

A) By shining a laser through the ocean to see the bottom 
B) By using radar to sense the height of the sea surface over submerged features 
C) By using sonar to measure ocean bottom contours directly 
D) By sensing changes in gravity as it flies over trenches and mountain ranges 
A) By shining a laser through the ocean to see the bottom 
B) By using radar to sense the height of the sea surface over submerged features 
C) By using sonar to measure ocean bottom contours directly 
D) By sensing changes in gravity as it flies over trenches and mountain ranges

Question 15

Hydrothermal vents such as black smokers are found at spreading centers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which statement most accurately describes how the continental rise is formed?

Accepted Answer

A) From the convergence of oceanic plates at passive continental margins 
B) From volcanic activity at active continental margins 
C) From the accumulation of sediments at the base of the continental slope 
D) From sedimentation surrounding spreading centers 
A) From the convergence of oceanic plates at passive continental margins 
B) From volcanic activity at active continental margins 
C) From the accumulation of sediments at the base of the continental slope 
D) From sedimentation surrounding spreading centers

Question 17

Abyssal hills are small extinct volcanoes commonly associated with ____.

Accepted Answer

A) seafloor spreading 
B) convergent zones 
C) active continental margins 
D) continental shelves 
A) seafloor spreading 
B) convergent zones 
C) active continental margins 
D) continental shelves

Question 18

Guyots are often formed near spreading centers.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

The transition between the shelf and the deep seafloor is the ____.

Accepted Answer

A) littoral zone 
B) continental slope and rise 
C) abyssal plain 
D) mid-ocean ridge 
A) littoral zone 
B) continental slope and rise 
C) abyssal plain 
D) mid-ocean ridge

Question 20

Which statement accurately describes active continental margins?

Accepted Answer

A) They are regions of great geological stability. 
B) They are characteristic of the margins of the Atlantic Basin. 
C) They are areas of frequent earthquakes and volcanoes, where lithospheric plates are converging. 
D) They are areas where lithospheric plates are actively moving apart. 
A) They are regions of great geological stability. 
B) They are characteristic of the margins of the Atlantic Basin. 
C) They are areas of frequent earthquakes and volcanoes, where lithospheric plates are converging. 
D) They are areas where lithospheric plates are actively moving apart.

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover about 25% of the surface of Earth. What are the characteristics of each of these features?

One of the widest and thickest continental rises is found ____.

Intense offshore drilling for oil and gas takes place primarily on the ____.

Where is the widest continental shelf located?

The deep-ocean basin includes which of the following features?

The Emperor Sea Mounts are found in the ____.

The mid-ocean mountains, such as the ridges and rises, are ____.

The apron of accumulated sediment at the base of the continental slope is known as the ____.

The landscape of the seafloor away from the continental margins could best be described as ____.

The submerged outer edge of a continent is called the ____.

The origin of submarine canyons is not well understood, but is most likely to be ____.

Water depth over continental shelves averages only about ____.

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover a quarter of Earth's surface.

How can a satellite sense the contours of the ocean bottom from space?

Hydrothermal vents such as black smokers are found at spreading centers.

Which statement most accurately describes how the continental rise is formed?

Abyssal hills are small extinct volcanoes commonly associated with ____.

Guyots are often formed near spreading centers.

The transition between the shelf and the deep seafloor is the ____.

Which statement accurately describes active continental margins?

The Origin of the Ocean

A History of Marine Science

Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

Ocean Sediments

Water

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean Circulation

Waves

Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Pelagic Communities

Benthic Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

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Exam 4: Ocean Basins

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover about 25% of the surface of Earth. What are the characteristics of each of these features?

One of the widest and thickest continental rises is found ____.

Intense offshore drilling for oil and gas takes place primarily on the ____.

Where is the widest continental shelf located?

The deep-ocean basin includes which of the following features?

The Emperor Sea Mounts are found in the ____.

The mid-ocean mountains, such as the ridges and rises, are ____.

The apron of accumulated sediment at the base of the continental slope is known as the ____.

The landscape of the seafloor away from the continental margins could best be described as ____.

The submerged outer edge of a continent is called the ____.

The origin of submarine canyons is not well understood, but is most likely to be ____.

Water depth over continental shelves averages only about ____.

Abyssal plains and abyssal hills cover a quarter of Earth's surface.

How can a satellite sense the contours of the ocean bottom from space?

Hydrothermal vents such as black smokers are found at spreading centers.

Which statement most accurately describes how the continental rise is formed?

Abyssal hills are small extinct volcanoes commonly associated with ____.

Guyots are often formed near spreading centers.

The transition between the shelf and the deep seafloor is the ____.

Which statement accurately describes active continental margins?

The Origin of the Ocean

A History of Marine Science

Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

Ocean Sediments

Water

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean Circulation

Waves

Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Pelagic Communities

Benthic Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters