Ocean Floor Configuration
In this section, we’ll explore key aspects of the ocean floor configuration that contribute to our understanding of continent and ocean distribution. While a detailed study of ocean floor relief is covered in Chapter 13, we can broadly divide the ocean floor into three main divisions based on depth and relief forms: continental margins, deep-sea basins, and mid-ocean ridges.
Continental Margins
Continental margins serve as the transition zone between continental shores and deep-sea basins. They encompass the continental shelf, continental slope, continental rise, and deep-oceanic trenches. Of these, deep-oceanic trenches are particularly significant in understanding ocean and continent distribution.
Abyssal Plains
Abyssal plains are vast flat areas located between continental margins and mid-oceanic ridges. These plains accumulate continental sediments that extend beyond the margins.
Mid-Oceanic Ridges
Mid-oceanic ridges form a continuous chain of underwater mountain systems. Despite being submerged beneath ocean waters, they represent the longest mountain chain on Earth’s surface. Characterized by a central rift system, a plateau, and a flank zone along its length, mid-oceanic ridges exhibit intense volcanic activity at the rift system crest. These volcanic features were introduced in the previous chapter as mid-oceanic volcanoes.
Distribution of Oceans and Continents| Class 11 Geography Notes
The theory of continental drift proposes that the continents on Earth’s surface have slowly moved and drifted across the planet over millions of years. This is caused by powerful forces originating from within the Earth’s interior, especially the convection currents in the mantle layer below the crust. The drifting and rearranging of continents over time has shaped the distribution of landmasses, oceans, climates, and life forms we see today.
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Distribution of Oceans and Continents| Class 11 Geography Notes