What is meant by deep oceanic trench? Discuss its significance and various features associated across major oceans. (200 Words)
Refer - The Indian Express
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IAS Parliament 5 years
KEY POINTS
Deep oceanic trenches
These areas are the deepest parts of the oceans. The trenches are relatively steep sided, narrow basins. They are some 3-5 km deeper than the surrounding ocean floor.
Significance
· They occur at the bases of continental slopes and along island arcs and are associated with active volcanoes and strong earthquakes.
· That is why they are very significant in the study of plate movements.
· Presence of trenches shows lack of continent shelves in the continents and are ssociated with the volcanic activity and building of fold mountains.
· Ex: Andes in South America and Rockies in North America.
Features of Trenches
· Deep oceanic Trenches are present extensively in the Pacific ocean due to the presence of plate boundaries. Ex: Juande fuca plate, California plate.
· While in Atlantic ocean Trenches relatively less when compare with pacific ocean.
· Lack of trenches are associated with the presence of large continental shelves, ex: largest continental shelves are present in Arctic ocean, off the coast of Siberia.
· In Indian Ocean we found presence of large continental shelves and less trenches.
aswin 5 years
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IAS Parliament 5 years
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Sanjeev Kumar Singh 5 years
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Try link the presence of trenches are associated with the absence of continental shelves, provide diagrams to explain the trenches. Keep Writing.
Surya 5 years
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IAS Parliament 5 years
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Aradhana Tiwari 5 years
Deep Oceanic trenches are the deepest parts of the oceans, comparatively steep-sided and have narrow basins. They are some 3-5 km deeper than the surrounding ocean floor. They are found at the bases of continental slopes and along island arcs. They typically form in locations where one tectonic plate subducts under another.
The deepest known depression of this kind is called the "Challenger Deep", which is part of the Mariana Trench, located below the surface of the western North Pacific Ocean. It is approximately 36,200 feet deep(as per NOAA).
>>> Its significance :
- They are associated with active volcanoes and strong earthquakes. That is why they are very important in the study of plate movements, can also help to predict earthquakes and tsunamis.
- They help us to understand how we are affecting and getting affected by the Earth’s environment.
- As per NOAA(The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) most of the existing knowledge of the oceans comes from shallower waters, while deeper waters remain relatively unexplored. However, findings reveal that, they are the new sources for medical drugs, food, energy resources and other products.
>>> Its various features are :
- Deep-oceanic trenches and their approaches are striking features on the ocean floor. In general, the cross sections of deep-oceanic trenches are V-shaped with steeper landward sides.
- In most deep-oceanic trenches the accumulated material is relatively shallow since the bottom of the trench subducts into Earth’s interior.
- The single major Indian Ocean trench is the Java Trench south of Indonesia extending from northern Australia to the northwestern end of Sumatra in the northeast Indian Ocean.
IAS Parliament 5 years
Try link the presence of trenches are associated with the absence of continental shelves. Keep Writing.
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