Geological and Physical Features of the Deep Ocean

Geological and Physical Features of the Deep Ocean
Author: Joseph Kariuki
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
Total Pages: 16
Release: 2024-02-27
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3963559357

Academic Paper from the year 2024 in the subject Earth Science / Geography - General, Basics, , language: English, abstract: This paper explored the enigmatic realm of the world's oceans, investigating the geological and physical features that shape the underwater environment. The study highlighted the importance of understanding these characteristics for scientific progress and their impact on various human activities, from resource exploration to environmental protection. Geological features such as mid-ocean ridges, trenches, abyssal plains, island arcs, and continental margins were examined in the context of their contribution to plate tectonics, earth's evolution, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning. The focus was on the "Endless Voyage" video episodes, which played a pivotal role in unraveling the mysteries of the deep ocean. These episodes, through captivating visuals and expert commentary, provided detailed analyses of the wonders of the deep sea, offering valuable insights for advancing oceanographic research and decision-making. The study delved into specific geological features, such as mid-ocean ridges, trenches, island arcs, continental margins, abyssal plains, hydrothermal vents, and the role of sound in the ocean. Mid-ocean ridges, exemplified by the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, East Pacific Rise, and Indian Ocean Ridge, were explored for their significance in plate tectonics, seafloor spreading, and regulation of the earth's heat budget. Trenches, including the Mariana Trench, were investigated in terms of their formation at subduction zones and their role in seismic activity and volcanic arcs. Island arcs, such as those in the Pacific Ring of Fire, were examined for their association with volcanic and seismic activity, providing insights into plate tectonics and geology. Continental margins, comprising continental shelves, slopes, and rises, were studied for their economic importance in fisheries, oil and gas exploration, mineral mining, and coastline protection. Abyssal plains, deep ocean floors characterized by sediment accumulation, and hydrothermal vents, cracks on the ocean floor with geothermally heated water, were explored for their geological and ecological significance. This paper provides a comprehensive understanding of the geological features of the deep ocean and their implications for scientific knowledge and human activities. The "Endless Voyage" series emerged as an invaluable resource, shedding light on the mysteries of the deep sea and contributing to the exploration of both past and future processes on and off the Earth.

Ocean Ridges and Trenches, Revised Edition

Ocean Ridges and Trenches, Revised Edition
Author: Peter Aleshire
Publisher: Infobase Holdings, Inc
Total Pages: 148
Release: 2019-06-01
Genre: Science
ISBN: 1438182546

Ocean Ridges and Trenches, Revised Edition immerses readers in the mysteries of the world's sea floors, from the surprising creatures of the Galapagos Rift to the devastating tsunamis of the Java Trench. This eBook reveals how 10 undersea mountain ranges and valleys came to be, how and why it has changed over the span of geologic time, and its contributions to the environment. The ridges and trenches covered span the Mariana Trench, the deepest point in the ocean, and the San Andreas Fault, site of many of California’s earthquakes. Each chapter provides illuminating material on environmental challenges and expert reports on science in action, with details on field studies conducted at each sea-floor site. Additional articles cover related high-interest topics, such as giant squids, magnetic fields, and plate tectonics.

Subduction Zones Part II

Subduction Zones Part II
Author: Larry J. Ruff
Publisher: Birkhäuser
Total Pages: 280
Release: 2012-12-06
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3034891407

Subduction zones consume oceanic lithosphere and are an indispensible part of plate tectonics. Unlike the oceanic lithosphere production system which can be linked as a nearly continuous, albeit sinuous, strand around the earth, subduction zones are a rather dissociated group and are found in several isolated corners of the world. While plate tectonics can predict that subduction zones are required along certain plate boundaries, it does not stipulate how subduction zones initiate and develop. The preservation of newly created oceanic lithosphere and the propensity for spreading centers to fragment continents leaves a wealth of geological informa tion on the initiation and evolution of spreading. On the other hand, the subject of subduction initiation has little observational basis. To find such observations, we need to look at some muddled tectonic regimes. The Macquarie Ridge complex presents a natural laboratory for studies of subduction initiation. 2. Tectonics of the Macquarie Ridge Complex The Macquarie Ridge complex is a complicated physiographic feature that trends approximately north-south between South Island, New Zealand and the Pacific-Antarctica spreading center. This feature consists of a sequence of troughs and ridges, with Macquarie Island as the only exposed expression. The seismically active Macquarie Ridge complex (hereafter: MRC) is crudely continuous with the Tonga-Kermadec-New Zealand seismic activity. The basic physiographic features and seismicity of the MRC are shown in Figure I. The earthquake epicenters generally cluster about the bathymetric expression of the MRC.

The Mid-Oceanic Ridges

The Mid-Oceanic Ridges
Author: Adolphe Nicolas
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
Total Pages: 210
Release: 2013-04-17
Genre: Science
ISBN: 3662031361

This book is completely in phase with the 1994 science.

Intra-oceanic Subduction Systems

Intra-oceanic Subduction Systems
Author: Robert D. Larter
Publisher: Geological Society of London
Total Pages: 362
Release: 2003
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9781862391475

Recycling of oceanic plate back into the Earth's interior at subduction zones is one of the key processes in Earth evolution. Volcanic arcs, which form above subduction zones, are the most visible manifestations of plate tectonics, the convection mechanism by which the Earth loses excess heat. They are probably also the main location where new continental crust is formed, the so-called 'subduction factory' About 400f modern subduction zones on Earth are intra-oceanic. These subduction systems are generally simpler than those at continental margins as they commonly have a shorter history of subduction and their magmas are not contaminated by ancient sialic crust. They are therefore the optimum locations for studies of mantle processes and magmatic addition to the crust in subduction zones.