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A continental margin is the outer edge of continental crust abutting oceanic crust under coastal waters. It is one of the three major zones of the ocean floor, the other two being deep-ocean basins and mid-ocean ridges. The continental margin consists of three different features: the continental rise, the continental slope, and the continental ...
The continental shelf and the slope are part of the continental margin. [6] The shelf area is commonly subdivided into the inner continental shelf, mid continental shelf, and outer continental shelf, [7] each with their specific geomorphology [8] [9] and marine biology. [10]
Through the process known as the extension of the outer limit of the continental shelf or establishment of the outer edge of the continental margin, every coastal state has the privilege, granted by the international community of nations, to acquire exclusive and perpetual rights to exploit the biotic and abiotic resources found on the seabed ...
The continental margin widens again from Abrolhos Bank, which the Besnard Bank connects to the Vitória-Trindade Ridge, a sequence of about 30 seamounts extending 950 km to east and peaking at their eastern end in the islands of Trindade and Martim Vaz. [14] Further south, the continental margin exceeds 500 km in width.
A typical continental margin profile found at latitude 35°N (a) is significantly different from that of latitude 31° 30′N (b). Both profiles are drawn using the same scale. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Ocean Explorer)
A continental arc is a type of volcanic arc occurring as an "arc-shape" topographic high region along a continental margin.The continental arc is formed at an active continental margin where two tectonic plates meet, and where one plate has continental crust and the other oceanic crust along the line of plate convergence, and a subduction zone develops.
The continental rise is a low-relief zone of accumulated sediments that lies between the continental slope and the abyssal plain. [1] It is a major part of the continental margin , covering around 10% of the ocean floor.
At some point, subduction is initiated along one or both of the continental margins of the ocean basin, producing a volcanic arc and possibly an Andean-type orogen along that continental margin. This produces deformation of the continental margins and possibly crustal thickening and mountain building. [30] [29]