The ocean consists of several structural elements. The continental slope is one of them. What is it and where is it located? You will learn about this from our article.
The continental slope is ...
Geography studies not only land, but also that located under water. In particular, a special scientific discipline, oceanography, is engaged in the study of the underwater sea topography.
The ocean floor consists of several structural parts. The continental slope is a transitional area between the shelf located above and the so-called ocean bed located below. On average, it is located at depths from 200 to 2000 meters.
Geologically, the continental slope is a conditional continuation of the continental land. This form of underwater relief is characterized by a significant steepness of the slopes, which can reach 30-40 degrees. Very often it is complicated by huge rocky steps, canyons, ridges and cliffs. Often on the mainland slope there are also underwater landslides arising under the influence of gravity.
The continental slope is a relatively narrow part of the seabed, which, however, occupies about 12% of the world's oceans.
Structural Features of the Continental Slope
The continental slopes are not characterized by a smooth surface. On the contrary, this bottom element is distinguished by a thick and rather deep dissection of the relief. Here you can often see the deepest troughs and troughs. Large masses of rocks often slip from the upper part of the continental slope, forming turbid currents and streams.
The continental slopes in different parts of the planet are not the same and differ in depth, length and slope. So, off the coast of Australia, the depth of the continental slope can reach five kilometers with a width of 150-200 km. But the mainland slope near South Africa has a pronounced stepped structure.
Huge underwater steps have been identified by oceanologists and on the outskirts of the Arctic Ocean. Here the Chukchi Plateau goes far below the water, where powerful underwater ridges adjoin it.
The main types of continental slopes
Scientists conditionally divide all continental slopes into three genetic types:
- denudation;
- accumulative;
- denudation-accumulative.
In the continental slopes of the denudation type, the processes of rock destruction predominate. In accumulative, on the contrary, the processes of accumulation of geological material dominate. The continental slopes of this type, as a rule, consist of terrigenous or sandy sediments. Denudation-accumulative continental slopes are a kind of transitional type between the above options slopes.
In general, the main "donor" of geological sedimentary material for any continental slope is the shelf. Rocks are washed away from it by undercurrents and settle down below in the form of layers of various thicknesses.