*Oceanography Vocabulary

Smooth, nearly flat region of the ocean floor comprised of thick layers of sediment

• continental slope
• continental shelf
• abyssal plain
• continental rise

Answer explanation

Jupiter is a gas giant made primarily of hydrogen and helium. Unlike terrestrial planets that have solid surfaces, gas giants like Jupiter don't have a well-defined solid surface, allowing them to accumulate more mass in a gaseous form. This composition has allowed Jupiter to grow significantly larger than planets with solid surfaces.

mound of sediment that extends away from the continent

• continental slope
• continental shelf
• abyssal plain
• continental rise

The edge of a continent that lies under the ocean.

• continental slope
• continental shelf
• abyssal plain
• continental rise

The slope between the outer edge of the continental shelf where seafloor slopes toward deep ocean floor.

• continental slope
• continental shelf
• abyssal plain
• continental rise

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

the curving of the winds and currents due to the rotation of Earth on its axis; in the Northern Hemisphere, currents curve to the right; in the Southern Hemisphere, currents curve to the left.

• Coriolis Effect
• deep ocean current
• surface current
• current

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

a large stream of moving water that flows through the oceans

• Coriolis Effect
• deep ocean current
• surface current
• current

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Flowing water deep under the ocean’s surface because of differences in density of ocean water; dense water sinks causing deep water along the ocean bottom to flow.

• Coriolis Effect
• deep ocean current
• surface current
• current

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

how much mass is packed into a given volume (Density = Mass / Volume)

• Density
• salinity
• oceans
• salt water

a powerful, warm, and swift ocean current in the Atlantic Ocean caused by strong winds from the west

• Coriolis Effect
• Spring tide
• Gulf Stream
• Neap tide

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

A large, continuous mountain range found within an ocean basin. It is the location on the seafloor where magma upwells and forms new seafloor.

• seamount
• mid ocean ridge
• oceanic trench
• continental shelf