Essays on Ocean Floor

Continental drift is the theory which proposes that the world was originally made up of a single continent. With the passage of time, this continent was broken up, and it drifted apart to form the seven continents that are present today. It was proposed by Alfred Wegener whose hypothesis stands that the continents are made up of rocks that rest on the heavier weighing rocks on the crust, and this is a movement that is mimicked by icebergs on water. The continents move rigidly. Plate tectonics theory proposes that the Earth’s surface is actually broken up into a ...

It is well-known that Native American cultures are characterized by their unbreakable connection with nature and peculiar spirituality which differs profoundly from that of Christians and other newcomers to the New World. The Cherokee and Iroquois tribes are distinguished by quite unusual and interesting perceptions of the world, origins of humans and morality, and these perceptions are embodies in Native oral traditions, cosmology and legends handed down from one generation to another. As Parker notes, “the creation story is for every group and for every person some form of coming to an awareness of their own existence, their world ...

The continental landscape features are reflected with analogous features on the ocean basins. Plains, Plateaus, volcanic cones, rolling hills, mountains, and valleys are found underwater in the oceans just like on land. However, research reveals that the largest mountains found beneath ocean waters are higher as compared to those on the continent. Also, the plains found under water are more extensive and flatter than those on the dry land.

The Shape of the Land

The ocean basins can be referred to that surface of the Earth that extends towards the sea from the margins of the continent. Ocean basins are usually submerged in the ...

The word tsunami is a Japanese word used to describe damaging sea waves caused by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and or landslides occurring on the ocean floor (Phillips, 2011). A direct translation of the Japanese phrase translates to harbor wave. Tsunamis are notorious for their deadly effects to life and infrastructure of coastal cities. While tsunami waves are slightly above normal in height, they span hundreds of kilometers in length. Over the past century, several parts of the globe have been devastated by tsunamis. However, Japan and Indonesia remain the most affected in regards to tsunami frequency, magnitude and estimated ...

- Explain what is a transform plate boundary A transform boundary are places where tectonic plates slide past each other. From a geological point of view transform boundaries are meant as a half-movement. Tectonic displacements do not affect the whole plate but a certain length, sometimes only certain segments cross mid-ocean ridges. Another feature of transform plates is that they join or separate the most heterogeneous patterns in the ocean and in the transition to it from the continental zone.

- Give some facts about plate boundary The largest offset segments of the mid-ocean ridges, as it turns out, has ...

Introduction

The Florida area is renowned for its attractive and unique coral reef. The coral reef system that exists in this area serves as the natural habitat to many reef-dwelling species. Some of the well-known species are the Gag Grouper, which are considered very important to the fishermen. However, in the past 40 years, there has been a significant decrease in the coral reef cover in South Florida. It is estimated that over half of the native Oculina Varicosa coral that exists off the Florida coast has been ruined since the early 70’s, and there is very little evidence to ...

The earth as we see it is composed of different components that make up the earth we know day. These components vary from the physical elements that are seen by the human eye to strange and unexplained forces that are in the visible elements of the earth. This has triggered the scientists to devise ways in which they will understand fully what happens on earth and why it is in the shape it is today. The scientists through governments have sent into space different space satellites that are able to help them get the desired knowledge of the different ...

Geography is one of the ancient earth science. The word ‘Geo’ meaning ‘Earth’ and ‘graphy’ meaning ‘to describe’ was first used by Eratosthenes, a Greek scholar in third century B.C. Geography is basically the study of the earth’s surface and associated changes and impacts associated with it. It is the study of the interactions of all physical and human phenomena and also the landforms created during these interactions. Physical geography is one of the main discipline of geographical science. It is mainly concerned with the study of the spatial patterns of weather and climate, soils and vegetation, water in ...

Remeber that you can browse through our huge essays database in search for inspiration!

Introduction

In the scientific world, many radical scientific principles go through a tumultuous progression before the scientific community accepts them. This was the case with the continental drift theory, a landmark theory in geology. When it was proposed, the scientific community received the continental drift theory with ridicule. However, with time, the theory underwent a series of reinforcement from accumulating evidence in support of the theory. In the end, it emerged as the greatest geological principle of all time. The continental drift theory was the brainchild of Alfred Wegener. Alfred Wegener was a German meteorologist born in 1980. He acquired a PhD in astronomy from ...

Summary of the geotechnical and structural problems of the I-495 Bridge

The I-495 Bridge in Wilmington, Delaware experienced geotechnical and structural problems leading to its closure. According to structural engineers, the closure of the bridge was following an external force that caused the four pillars of the bridge to tilt. The 11-mile long bypass through the bridge remains closed for an unknown time. The tilting pillars were because of a shifting force on the earth surface, but the engineers had not yet identified the source. Engineers and workers are using shovels, and high-powered sensors to discover the main cause of the shifts on the ground (Nann, and Jeff 1). After ...

Introduction3

Statistics.3 Offshore oil drilling4 Effects on the environment.7 Recommended solutions10 Conclusion.13

Works Cited14

Abstract Today, the United States has over 5600 offshore gas and oil platforms; there are also over 27,000 miles of pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico area alone. This shows the extent to which offshore oil drilling occurs in the United States. In other developed parts of the world, the situation is the same. Oil is a product on high demand; this facilitates efforts in extracting it form its deposits deep in the sea floor. The retrieval requires the use of sophisticated equipment ...

Abstract

The K–Pg mass extinction took place at the end of Cretaceous Era and the onset of the Paleogene System. At the end of the Cretaceous, just before the K–Pg event, between 40% and 75% of marine life forms and terrestrial species disappear from fossilized records. Included in K-Pg mass extinction were well-known groups as flightless dinosaurs, related reptile species and many species of marine plankton.

Introduction

The K-Pg (Cretaceous–Paleogene) mass extinction, also termed as the K-T (Cretaceous–Tertiary) extinction, is documented as a mass extinction of nearly three-quarters of fauna and flora on Earth, which includes all non-avian ...

Ocean layering is the division of various depth ranges of the ocean according to their characteristic traits into zones so as to enable scientists to study it better. There are five major zones that the ocean is divided into. These are: - The epipelagic zone also known as the light zone. - The mesopelagic zone also known as the twilight zone. - The bathypelagic zone also known as the midnight zone. - The abyssopelagic zone, also known as the abyss. - And the hadelpelagic zone also known as the trenches. It is apparent ...

The contribution of Alfred Wegener

William C. McCullough LAIS 370 History of Science Colorado School of Mines Abstract This paper discusses the role of Alfred Wegener in the discovery of the Plates tectonics theory. It is believed that the modern day plate tectonics theory is an advancement of continental drift theory which was discovered by Wegener. The study will seek to explore his efforts and contribution to modern science and how he has helped to shape the world.

Overview

Plate tectonics also known as continental drift theory describes that the earth was at one time many years back a super continent whereby ...

- Introduction - Opening Statement - Thesis Statement: Tsunamis are waves formed due to heightened activity beneath the ocean floor, such as earthquakes, explosions and landslides, which foster huge displacements of water from the ocean surface. - Tsunami - Tsunamis and its Causes - Characteristics of Tsunamis - Conclusion - Preparing for Tsunamis - Conclusion

Tsunamis

It has been almost two years since the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disaster, which made millions weary of the destructive power of tsunamis as it struck Northern Japan powerless. The tsunami did not just render ...

Introduction

In this essay, a research took place about the following topics, which are meant to be clarified: geographic evidence as support of the theory of continental drift, scientifical acceptance of the movement of continents, the process of the scientific method and theory development, the scientific method help in understanding the natural world, association between the plate tectonics, continental drift and natural landforms. With these topics addressed, in this essay, the understanding of the natural world should become clearer, adding new knowledge on the matter, which should complement the one acquired al throughout the course. - Geographic evidence collected ...

Abstract

The subject of evolution is one that finds substantial amount of conflict from various fronts. Much of this conflict comes from theological stance where the story of creation is consistently quoted as the viable source that defines the origin of living and non-living things. However, the creation story lacks tangible evidence as compared to the story of the evolution. There is an overwhelming body of research works and evidence that clarify this. However, despite all the evidences provided, there exists some confusion as to the origin of the earth. A quick look at various academic books used especially in ...

Final Exam Geology

Patterns of Surface Ocean Currents

Surface currents are found in the upper four hundred meters of an ocean body and they form major patterns such as eddies, upwelling, and gyres (Garrishon, 2007). Surface currents result from wind energy that is concentrated in both north and south hemispheres forming trade winds which are easterlies and westerlies (Garrishon, 2007). Waves on the sea surface transfer some of the energy from the moving air to the water by friction. Pulling of wind on the surface of ocean causes an accumulation of water with the water displaced underneath the wind forming the movement. ...

The hydrological cycle depicts the movement and existence of water above, in, and on the Earth. Water on earth is always under constant movement, and its states always vary from solid to liquid to vapor. The hydrological cycle has no starting point, but its assumed it begins mostly in large water bodies such oceans. The process kick starts when sun heats water in large bodies, which in turn evaporate as vapor into the atmosphere. Due to low temperatures, Ice and snow at times can directly sublimate into water vapor, which collects with other rising currents from plants and soil, ...