Ocean 101
Whether you live near the water or not, the ocean influences all our lives in numerous ways. The properties and processes of our ocean basins can influence our climate, pose natural hazards risk, and produce valuable resources from food to minerals.
The USGS conducts ocean science, all the way from terrestrial watersheds out to the deep sea. Understanding this interconnectedness requires greater knowledge of the processes occurring within and across these ecosystems. The USGS is uniquely positioned to be able to answer fundamental questions about these Earth systems, how they interact, and how they might change in the future.
Let’s get familiar with the ocean’s geologic features before you dive into our research and tools.
Ocean Regions
Our coasts, the most familiar part of the ocean, are the gateway to the larger deeper ocean. The USGS studies processes and hazards in the coastal zone and how they affect people, wildlife, and ecosystems. Coastal areas extend seaward across the continental shelf, where ocean currents move, creating and connecting many ecologically and economically important ecosystems and habitats. These include seagrass beds, coral reefs, and kelp forests. Beyond the coast, the USGS is involved in mapping all realms of the ocean. These include the boundary between the shelf and the continental slope—often carved by submarine canyons—and out to the continental rise and abyssal plain of the deep ocean.
Expertise and Discovery
The USGS brings expertise to mapping the shelf-slope boundary which includes characterizing and defining the boundaries of specific features so that we can better protect, manage, and use the seabed resources that occur there. These shelf and slope areas are of great interest for determining the presence and threats of marine geohazards, such as submarine landslides that can trigger tsunamis. They also include unique chemistry associated with hydrothermal vents and gas hydrates that support unique ecosystems.
Ocean sediments and nutrients flow off the shelf from coastal areas into the deep sea. Mapping and exploring these processes, along shelf areas and in submarine canyons expands our understanding about the biological and geological connections between our coasts and diverse deep sea life like deep-water corals, sponges, crustaceans, and unique microbial communities. Within the deep sea, we explore diverse geological features to discover what types of life, minerals, and hazards dwell in these unique and remote areas of our planet. Here the USGS studies mid-ocean ridges, trenches and the active geochemical activity to better understand tectonic plate movement at subduction zones as well as to understand their ecological significance in the deep ocean ecosystem.
Beyond the continental rise, the abyssal plain sprawls across deep ocean floor and gives rise to seamounts and plateaus of various geological origin that can reach 2000 meters or more above the surrounding seafloor. Within the plains, the ocean floor is composed of oceanic crust, known as basalt. As tectonic plates spread apart, molten magma rises up into the ocean floor, forming a mid-ocean ridge, which is part of the active tectonic processes that are shaping our planet. At these geologically active sites, hydrothermal fluids vent hot mineralogic material into the ocean water. This activity forms deep sea mineral deposits and supports chemosynthetic life forms and related ecosystems. In these areas, important discoveries about our planet and the life forms that live in these remote areas are still being made.
Now that you know your way around the ocean, read some Fun Facts and learn more about USGS research by exploring our Ocean Topics.
Fun Facts
Why is the ocean salty?
Where can I get current sea-surface temperature data?
Whether you live near the water or not, the ocean influences all our lives in numerous ways. The properties and processes of our ocean basins can influence our climate, pose natural hazards risk, and produce valuable resources from food to minerals.
The USGS conducts ocean science, all the way from terrestrial watersheds out to the deep sea. Understanding this interconnectedness requires greater knowledge of the processes occurring within and across these ecosystems. The USGS is uniquely positioned to be able to answer fundamental questions about these Earth systems, how they interact, and how they might change in the future.
Let’s get familiar with the ocean’s geologic features before you dive into our research and tools.
Ocean Regions
Our coasts, the most familiar part of the ocean, are the gateway to the larger deeper ocean. The USGS studies processes and hazards in the coastal zone and how they affect people, wildlife, and ecosystems. Coastal areas extend seaward across the continental shelf, where ocean currents move, creating and connecting many ecologically and economically important ecosystems and habitats. These include seagrass beds, coral reefs, and kelp forests. Beyond the coast, the USGS is involved in mapping all realms of the ocean. These include the boundary between the shelf and the continental slope—often carved by submarine canyons—and out to the continental rise and abyssal plain of the deep ocean.
Expertise and Discovery
The USGS brings expertise to mapping the shelf-slope boundary which includes characterizing and defining the boundaries of specific features so that we can better protect, manage, and use the seabed resources that occur there. These shelf and slope areas are of great interest for determining the presence and threats of marine geohazards, such as submarine landslides that can trigger tsunamis. They also include unique chemistry associated with hydrothermal vents and gas hydrates that support unique ecosystems.
Ocean sediments and nutrients flow off the shelf from coastal areas into the deep sea. Mapping and exploring these processes, along shelf areas and in submarine canyons expands our understanding about the biological and geological connections between our coasts and diverse deep sea life like deep-water corals, sponges, crustaceans, and unique microbial communities. Within the deep sea, we explore diverse geological features to discover what types of life, minerals, and hazards dwell in these unique and remote areas of our planet. Here the USGS studies mid-ocean ridges, trenches and the active geochemical activity to better understand tectonic plate movement at subduction zones as well as to understand their ecological significance in the deep ocean ecosystem.
Beyond the continental rise, the abyssal plain sprawls across deep ocean floor and gives rise to seamounts and plateaus of various geological origin that can reach 2000 meters or more above the surrounding seafloor. Within the plains, the ocean floor is composed of oceanic crust, known as basalt. As tectonic plates spread apart, molten magma rises up into the ocean floor, forming a mid-ocean ridge, which is part of the active tectonic processes that are shaping our planet. At these geologically active sites, hydrothermal fluids vent hot mineralogic material into the ocean water. This activity forms deep sea mineral deposits and supports chemosynthetic life forms and related ecosystems. In these areas, important discoveries about our planet and the life forms that live in these remote areas are still being made.
Now that you know your way around the ocean, read some Fun Facts and learn more about USGS research by exploring our Ocean Topics.
Fun Facts