2023 Oceanography Vocab

Front

Edge of a continent under the ocean, ends at shelf break.

Back

continental shelf

Front

Dissolved salt concentration in water (avg seawater: 3.5% or 35,000 ppm; tap water: <100 ppm)

Back

salinity

Front

Smooth, flat region of deep ocean floor

Back

Abyssal plain

Front

Past the shelf break, this part of the continental crust descends to the deep ocean floor.

Back

continental slope

Front

Area in water up to 200m depth where sunlight allows photosynthesis.

Back

Photic zone

Front

Study of Earth’s oceans

Back

Oceanography

Front

Ocean zone consisting of the ocean floor, including the continental shelf and deep ocean floor.

Back

benthic zone

Front

Open ocean, where sunlight doesn't reach the seabed.

Back

oceanic zone

Front

Part of the ocean where the continental shelf slopes seaward and sunlight reaches the bottom.

Back

neritic zone

Front

Part of the shore below water at high tide and above at low tide.

Back

intertidal zone