Ocean Geography

ocean

largest body of saltwater covering 75% of globe

sea

body of saltwater of second rank, more or less land-locked

inlet

long, narrow indentation in the shoreline

gulf

part of an ocean or sea extending into land

cove

indentation in the shoreline, deeper than wide

bight

indentation in the shoreline, wider than deep

bay

smaller than a gulf, bigger than a cove, partly enclosed by land

continental margin

consists of slope, shelf, and rise

continental shelf

region of continental margin from land to slope

continental slope

region of continental margin from shelf to deep sea

continental rise

accumulation of sediment at the bottom of the slope

strait

narrow passage of water connecting two larger bodies of water

channel

strait or narrow sea between two close land masses

sound

passage of water between an island and the mainland

rift zone

where two plates move apart, mountain chains from on both sides

trench

deep valley - caused when one plate subducts under another

submarine canyon

underwater, v-shaped canyon found in the continental margin

sea mount

submerged volcano (1000-4000 m)

guyot

flat topped sea mount

abyssal plains

wide rolling plains covering 60% of sea floor