Where do you see particularly high or low areas in the oceans
There are several areas in the oceans where you can find particularly high or low points. These areas can be categorized as follows:
1. Trenches: Some of the deepest areas in the world's oceans are trenches, which are long, narrow depressions in the Earth's crust. The Mariana Trench, located in the western Pacific Ocean, is the deepest point on Earth, reaching a depth of about 36,070 feet (10,972 meters) below sea level.
2. Abyssal Plains: These are flat or gently sloping areas on the deep ocean floor. They are generally quite uniform and relatively low-lying in comparison to other regions of the oceans.
3. Continental Shelves: Located near the coasts, continental shelves are shallow, relatively flat areas that extend from the shoreline to the continental slope. They are part of continental landmasses and usually have an average depth of around 460 feet (140 meters).
4. Mid-Ocean Ridges: These are areas where tectonic plates are moving apart, resulting in volcanic activity and the formation of undersea mountain ranges. Mid-ocean ridges are relatively high in comparison to the surrounding ocean floor. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of such a ridge.
5. Seamounts: These are underwater mountains that rise from the ocean floor but do not reach the water's surface. Seamounts can vary in height, but some can be thousands of feet high.
6. Submarine Canyons: These are deep, steep-sided valleys that cut into the continental shelf and slope. They can reach depths comparable to deep ocean trenches and are often carved by underwater erosion processes.
It's important to note that the ocean floor is not uniformly mapped, and new discoveries and mappings are constantly being made.
short answer?
High areas: Mid-ocean ridges, seamounts
Low areas: Trenches, abyssal plains
To identify particularly high or low areas in the oceans, we can look at variations in sea surface height, which is often referred to as ocean topography or bathymetry. This information can be obtained through satellite observations and is derived from altimetry data.
Satellite altimetry works by measuring the time it takes for a radar signal to travel from the satellite to the ocean surface and back. This data, combined with precise satellite positioning, allows scientists to determine the height of the sea surface relative to the Earth's geoid (an imaginary surface representing the mean sea level).
High areas in the oceans are typically associated with underwater mountain ranges, volcanic seamounts, or other topographic features. For instance, areas like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the underwater ridges in the Pacific Ocean (such as the East Pacific Rise), or the Himalaya underwater arc are known for their high points and are visible in altimetry data.
On the other hand, low areas in the oceans can be found in regions such as oceanic trenches or basins. Some examples include the Mariana Trench (the deepest point on Earth), the South Sandwich Trench, or the Sargasso Sea. These areas are characterized by significant dips in the ocean floor and can also be identified using altimetry data.
By examining altimetry datasets, scientists are able to create maps that show the variations in sea surface height, allowing us to visualize the highs and lows of the ocean's topography.