Read pp. 75-80 to better understand the following sections
1. List the three major ocean floor provinces. (Also see fig. 3.6)
Passive Versus Active Continental Margins
2. Define passive continental margin and active continental margin. (Also see fig. 3.7)
Continental Shelf
3. Describe the continental shelf. (Also see fig. 3.8)
4. Describe the shelf break. (Also see fig. 3.8)
5. Explain why the continental shelf is flat.
6. Give the continental shelf's average width and range of widths in kilometers.
7. Give the shelf break's average depth in meters.
8. Explain why New York's continental shelf is wider than Oregon's.
Continental Slope
9. Describe the continental slope. (Also see fig. 3.8)
10. Which North American continental margin has a continental slope with a steeper average gradient?
Submarine Canyons and Turbidity Currents
11. Describe submarine canyons. (Also see figs. 3.10 and 3.11)
12. Contrast the sizes of the Monterey Submarine Canyon and the Grand Canyon. (Also see fig. 3.11)
13. Give the average depth to the base of the continental slope.
14. Explain why the portions of the submarine canyons below a few hundred meters could not have formed by stream erosion.
15. Contrast the shapes of submarine canyons confined to the continental slope and submarine canyons that cut across the continental shelf.
16. Give the reason for the two distinct shapes for submarine canyons.
17. Explain the formation of most submarine canyons. (Also see figs. 3.10 and 3D)
18. Describe a turbidity current. (Also see figs. 3.10 and 3D)
19. Give the triggering mechanisms for turbidity currents.
Continental Rise
20. Describe the continental rise. (Also see fig. 3.10)
21. Explain the formation of the continental rise.
22. Explain how the graded bedding sequences in continental rises formed. (Also see fig. 3.10)
23. Describe a deep-sea fan. (Also see fig. 3.10)
24. Explain the role of deep-sea fans in the formation of the continental rise.
25. Explain why continental rises often do not form along active continental margins. (Also see fig. 3.7)
26. Give the Indus deep-sea fan's length. (Also see fig. 3.10)
Box 3.2 - A Grand "Break": Evidence For Turbidity Currents
27. Discuss this evidence that submarine canyons are eroded by turbidity currents.