Lesson 2.2Ocean Floor

*Refer to Chapter 3 in your Textbook

Learning Goals:1. I can identify & label the ocean zones2. I can label & identify ocean floor features3. I can describe the composition of the

seafloor

Ocean Zones Hortizontal:

Intertidal Zone: area closest to shore, covered during high tide and exposed to air during low tide

Neritic Zone: extends from the intertidal zone to the continental shelf

Oceanic Zone: extends from the continental shelf to the end of the continental slope

Ocean Zones Vertical:

Pelagic Zone: “open ocean” Photic: portion of the pelagic zone with sunlight Aphotic: portion of the pelagic zone without

sunlightBenthic Zone: “bottom of ocean,” ocean floor Hadal Zone: below the bottom of the ocean

floor (trenches)

Ocean Floor Bathygraphic features: are the physical

features of the ocean VS Topographic features of land

Ocean Floor Divided into 2 regions:Continental Margin: from continental shelf to

riseOcean Basin: from continental rise to open

ocean

Continental Margin:Continental Shelf: top of marginContinental Slope: sharp drop from shelf Continental Rise: bottom of slope, gradual drop Submarine Canyon: deep cut in continental

margin

Ocean Basin:Abyssal Plains: flat ocean bottomSeamounts: single underwater pointed

mountain Guyots: single underwater flat mountain Trenches: deep cut in the ocean floor Ridges: a continuous series of underwater

mountains

Ocean Basin

Composition of the Ocean FloorBasalt rock covered by a layer of sedimentTypes of Sediment:

Hydrogenous: forms from chemical processes in the seawater

Biogenous: forms from the shells & skeletons of living organisms

Terrigenous: carried into the ocean from the land

Cosmogenous: particles from outer space