Continental Margins Overview

List three features commonly found in continental margins.

• Deep oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, high seismic activity

• Continental shelves, gentle slopes, thick sediment accumulation formed from turbidity currents.

• Extensive coral reefs, tropical climate, high biodiversity

What geological process is responsible for the formation of continental margins?

• Plate tectonics

• Volcanic eruptions

• Glacial erosion

• Sediment deposition

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

How do continental shelves differ from continental slopes?

• Continental shelves are deeper than continental slopes.

• Continental shelves are not connected to continents, unlike continental slopes.

• Continental shelves are shallow and gently sloping, while continental slopes are steeper and more abrupt.

• Continental shelves have a steeper slope than continental slopes.

How do sediment deposits contribute to the shaping of continental margins?

• Sediment deposits cause continental margins to erode faster

• Sediment deposits lead to the expansion of continental margins

• Sediment deposits have no impact on continental margins

• Sediment deposits contribute to the shaping of continental margins by accumulating and forming various features.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Which ocean because of its continental margin features gives rise to more volcanic and earthquake activity?

• Indian

• Atlantic

• Arctic

• Pacific

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Turbidly currents occur in the continental margin where which of the follow are located?

• Deep ocean trenches

• Coral reefs

• Abyssal plains

• Continental shelf