Ocean floor features can be measured and mapped by using current acoustical technology by sonar. New technology improved, allowing oceanographers to construct the first detailed maps with important features such as the deep-sea trenches and mid-ocean ridges. These early maps provided the context for plate tectonics theory in the 1960's. Ocean floor maps can also be used for the military. The Navy began using a new technology, multibeam sonar. It produced depth surroundings significant distances perpendicular to the ship's track as well as directly below. this allowed the development of detailed, complete maps showing bottom contour.
A flat abyssal plain- normally refers to the flat areas of the deep ocean floor.
Underwater seamount- another name for an underwater mountain regardless of how it was formed.
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| underwater guyot |
Underwater guyot- a flat topped underwater mountain that is wave formed from a previous island.
A continental canyon on the continental shelf- a
continental shelf is the edge of a
continent that lies under the
ocean.
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| submarine canyon |
A submarine canyon on the continental shelf- a steep-sided valley cut into the sea floor of the continental slope, sometimes extending well onto the continental shelf.
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| mid-ocean ridge |
The mid-ocean ridge- an underwater mountain system that consists of various mountain ranges, having a valley known as a rift running along its spine, formed by plate tectonics.
A trench and island arc system- it is often composed of a chain of volcanoes, with arc-shaped alignment, situated parallel and close to a boundary between two converging tectonic plates.
