Study Guide: Introduction to Oceanography

1. 	Approximately how much of Earth’s surface is covered by water?

2. 	Which are the four major oceans?

3. 	Where trenches do not exist, the steep continental slope merges into a more gradual incline known as the ___________.

4. 	Deep, steep-sided valleys that begin on the continental slope and extend to the ocean basin floor are called _________.

5. 	Isolated volcanic peaks on the ocean floor are called _________.

6. 	What technology do scientists use to measure ocean depth?

7. 	Differences in ocean-surface height can be measured by __________.

8.  Can submersibles map the ocean floor from space?

9. 	What are the three major regions of the ocean floor?

10. 	What kinds of currents are associated with down-slope movements of dense sediment-rich water?

11. 	The gently sloping submerged surface extending from the shoreline toward the deep ocean is called _________.

12. 	Important mineral deposits, including large reservoirs of oil and natural gas, are associated with what part of the continental margin?

13. 	What are the zones included in the continental margin?

14. Do earthquakes, volcanic activity, and plate interactions occur at the continental margin in the Pacific Ocean?

15. 	Which regions are thought to be the most level places on Earth?

16. 	Where is the ocean deepest?

17. 	Mineral-rich water, heated by newly formed oceanic crust, escapes through cracks in the ocean floor called _______.

18. 	Where does seafloor spreading occur?

19. 	What is biogenous sediment is made up of?

20. 	Heat from Earth’s interior and pressure from overlying rock transform the remains of marine sediments into _______.