Ocean Environments

How does sonar technology measure the depth of the ocean floor?

• The device sends sound signals to the ocean floor and records the time it takes for each signal to return.

• The device receives electromagnetic energy that is emitted by cooling oceanic crust.

• The device lowers a cord from a ship to the bottom of the ocean and records the cord's length.

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Which is the flattest deep ocean feature?

• abyssal plain

• deep sea trench

• mid-ocean ridge

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Which ocean feature forms at a divergent boundary and is formed by magma that rises from Earth's mantle?

• deep sea trench

• mid-ocean ridge

• continental slope

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Which statement best explains why scientists depend on submarines to study ocean features?

• The extreme pressure and freezing temperatures of the deep ocean make it dangerous to send humans to the greatest ocean depths.

• Signals used to collect remote sensing data cannot travel through ocean water.

• The vastness of the ocean environment makes it difficult for any single ship to collect enough data to produce accurate maps.

Why are coral reefs not found in the Arctic Ocean?

• The marine life would eat the coral before it could form a coral reef.

• Too much sunlight gets reflected off the ice.

• The water temperature is too cold.

Which of the following human activities damages a coral reef?

• controlling wastes

• recycling

• over-fishing

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Which statement best explains why benthic zones are further classified by depth?

• The ocean floor varies in depth at different locations around the world.

• Physical conditions of the water near the ocean floor vary dramatically by depth.

• The rock that forms the ocean floor varies dramatically by depth.

The area of the ocean that connects the shore to the deep ocean is called the continental margin. Connect each feature of the continental margin with the description that fits.

• continental shelf

• land a person stands on when walking into the ocean

• continental slope

• connects to the abyssal plain

• continental rise

• the steepest part of the continental margin