Notes: Topography and Bathymetry
Topography
 The three dimensional shape of the_______________, including mountains and
valleys
Topography on Land
 Used to measure mountains, valleys, plains, changes in _________________
and building sites
 Measured using _____________________ techniques
Topography at Sea
 Used to measure mountains, valleys, plains and changes in _______________
below sea level
 Also known as __________________________
bathy- depth
meter- to measure
Why map the seafloor?
 To learn more about the ____________________ of the ocean floor
 To identify areas of __________________ and deposition offshore (on the
continental shelf)
 To locate geohazards (such as ______________________________)
 To locate pathways for movement of sediment and _______________________
Bathymetry
First measured by sailors using long_______________ and _____________
Measuring Bathymetry Today
 SONAR- sends _________________ toward the sea floor and detects the
_______________________of that sound back
 A sonar image- the ___________________ help identify
features on the ocean floor
 Map based on a
_______________________
Some Common Seafloor features
 Continental Shelf: An extension of the ___________________ that is covered
by water
 Varies in ___________________
 Very small in _________________
 Continental slope: the ________________ of the ocean basin
 Connects the continental _______________ to the ocean floor
 Continental rise: A collection of __________________ (sand & mud) found near
the edge of the basin
 Abyssal plain: The ______________________ of the ocean
 Can be up to _____________________ ft deep (6,000m)
 Diverse life forms, like this guy
 Mid ocean ridge: a chain of underwater _____________________
 The ____________________ feature on Earth
 Seamount: an underwater __________________ mountain that has never
reached the _____________________
 Guyot: an underwater volcanic mountain that has a ___________ top.
 was once a ____________________ that was above water and had its top
_____________________ away