/
Ocean Basin Dynamics
Save to my account
Sign up
Ocean Basin Dynamics
Ocean Basin Dynamics
Study
1
Question
What is an ocean basin?
Answer
An ocean basin is a depression of the earth's surface in which an ocean lies. It is one of many vast underwater regions that together cover almost three quarters of the earth's surface. Together, it contains the vast majority of all the water on the planet and has an average depth of nearly 4 km (about 2.5 miles).
2
Question
What structures or topographical features are associated with an ocean basin?
Answer
The structures or topographical features associated with an ocean basin include the continental shelf, continental slope, continental rise, ocean floor, and mid-oceanic ridges.
3
Question
Give an example of an ocean basin.
Answer
An example of an ocean basin is the Atlantic Basin.
4
Question
What is seafloor spreading?
Answer
Seafloor spreading is the formation of new areas of oceanic crust, which occurs through the upwelling of magma at mid-ocean ridges and its subsequent outward movement on either side.
5
Question
Describe the continental shelf.
Answer
The continental shelf is the red area that borders the various landmasses and is structurally part of the continental landmasses, despite the fact that it is underwater.
6
Question
What are the colors that represent different zones around the continental shelf?
Answer
The yellow to green zone around the continental shelf represents the continental slope and continental rise. The blue region constitutes the ocean floor.
7
Question
What does the Wilson Cycle explain?
Answer
The Wilson Cycle explains the process of the opening (beginning) and the closing (end) of an ocean.
8
Question
What drives the processes of the Wilson Cycle?
Answer
The processes of the Wilson Cycle are driven by Plate Tectonics.
9
Question
Who is the Wilson Cycle named after?
Answer
The Wilson Cycle is named after the Canadian geophysicist J. Tuzo Wilson (1908-1993).
10
Question
What are the two major phases of the Wilson Cycle?
Answer
The two major phases of the Wilson Cycle are the Opening phase and the Closing phase.
11
Question
What are the six stages of the Wilson Cycle?
Answer
The six stages of the Wilson Cycle are 1) Embryonic Ocean Basin, 2) Juvenile Ocean Basin, 3) Mature Ocean Basin, 4) Declining Ocean Basin, 5) Terminal Ocean Basin, and 6) Suturing Continental collision.
12
Question
What significant geographical changes occurred 250 million years ago?
Answer
250 million years ago, Earth had a single continent called Pangaea and one ocean called Panthalassa.
13
Question
What significant separation occurred 180 million years ago?
Answer
180 million years ago, North America separated from South America and Africa.
14
Question
What did North America join to create Laurasia?
Answer
North America joined Eurasia to create Laurasia.
15
Question
When did South America begin to separate from Africa?
Answer
South America began to separate from Africa 135 million years ago.
16
Question
When did North America and Eurasia separate?
Answer
North America and Eurasia separated a few million years after South America began to separate from Africa.