Ocean Relief Features

A major portion of the ocean floor mapping is found between 3 to 6 km below the average sea level. The land below the water of the oceans, the ocean floor reveals various and complex features compared to those observed above the land.

Ocean relief features are the underwater mountains, valleys, plains, and other features that shape the ocean floor. While the ocean floor might look smooth on a map it’s a world of dramatic variations in topography just like the landmasses above the water.

These features can be broadly categorized into major relief features and minor relief features.

• Major Relief Features: These are the large-scale structures that define the ocean floor.

Examples: Ocean Basins, Continental Shelves, Continental Slopes and Mid Ocean ridges.

• Minor Relief Features: These are the smaller variations that add detail to the ocean floor.

Example: Seamounts, Guyots, Trenches, Submarine Canyons and Atolls.

Ocean relief is caused due to Volcanic, depositional, tectonic, and erosional processes and their interactions. Ocean relief features are divided into Minor and Major relief features.

Ocean Floor Mapping is like creating a detailed picture of the underwater landscape revealing the mountains, valleys, plains, and other features that make it anything but flat.

In this article, You will learn about Ocean floor mapping, Ocean Relief features, Minor relief of the ocean, and the Significance of Oceanic Relief.