Lab 2 – Exploring the Topography of the Earth’s Surface
Part 1:
The water depth data in this figure are in meters (m) below sea level. You will often see this
abbreviated as mbsl. Use a contour interval of 100 m start
...
Lab 2 – Exploring the Topography of the Earth’s Surface
Part 1:
The water depth data in this figure are in meters (m) below sea level. You will often see this
abbreviated as mbsl. Use a contour interval of 100 m starting with 100 m. Finally, ignore the “t”
you see after 535 (lower left side).
Note: The x- and y-axes for this map are both 5 km. Also, the water depth data in this figure are in meters below sea
level (mbsl).
1 of 7OC 201e – Introduction to Oceanography
Questions:
1. Draw the contour lines on the plot above as per the instructions. (5 pts)
2. What region of the ocean is this a plot of? (0.5 pts)
- Looks to be off of a coast line
3. What are three major features found on this plot? Label them on the plot as well. Hint –
This bathymetric map is very similar to what we see off the northern Oregon coast. (3 pts)
-
4. Could there be features on this plot that we did not map? Explain? (2 pts)
- Yes, there could always be depths that were not measured in between thus creating new
contour lines.
5. On this plot where would you expect to find the most neritic sediment in the offshore region?
Mark this on the plot. How did this neritic sediment get here? (2 pts)
- The most neritic sediment would be found in the shallower parts of this contour map.
These sediment deposits get here primarily by land erosion and are carried here from
other water sources.
6. What is strange about this depth profile? Where would you expect to find this sort of depth
profile? (Note – think about this in regards to the depth range)? (1 pt)
- The depth jumps in this profile are strange. Depths in close proximity were sometimes
100’s of meter apart in depth meaning very large drop offs. You could find this sort of
depth profile in the mesopelagic zone of the ocean where the depth ranges from 200-
1000m.
2 of 7OC 201e – Introduction to Oceanography
Part 2:
1. Click on the “bookmarks” menu and select “zoom to specific region” and enter N: 36, E: -20,
S: 16, W: -65, then click zoom. This takes you to area #1 in the North Atlantic Ocean. The
shallow (white & orange colors) feature running down the middle of the basin is known as
the “Mid-Atlantic Ridge”. Note that your curser’s lat long is displayed at the top of the
window. Coordinates should ALWAYS be listed as Lat Long (never Long Lat) – otherwise
confusion leads to running aground or sampling in the wrong place.
Click on the “distance/profile tool” (i.e., the bottom immediately to the left of the “X-Y-Z”
button) and make a profile of the seafloor from around 29°N, 53°W to the southeast
perpendicular to the ridge, ending at around 24°N, 33°W. Save the profile as profile1.jpg and
then import it into the space below. (0.5 pts)
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