continental shelf
51continental — continentally, adv. /kon tn en tl/, adj. 1. of or of the nature of a continent. 2. (usually cap.) of or pertaining to the mainland of Europe, to Europeans, or to European customs and attitudes. 3. (cap.) of or pertaining to the 13 original… …
52Continental rise — Diagrammatic cross section of an oceanic basin The continental rise is an underwater feature found between the continental slope and the abyssal plain. This feature can be found all around the world, and it represents the final stage in the… …
53shelf — noun (plural shelves) Etymology: Middle English, probably from Old English scylfe; akin to Old Norse hlīthskjalf Odin s seat Date: 14th century 1. a. a thin flat usually long and narrow piece of material (as wood) fastened horizontally (as on a… …
54continental drift — Geol. the lateral movement of continents resulting from the motion of crustal plates. Cf. plate tectonics. [1925 30] * * * Large scale movements of continents over the course of geologic time. The first complete theory of continental drift was… …
55Continental — adj. & n. adj. 1 of or characteristic of a continent. 2 (Continental) Brit. of, relating to, or characteristic of mainland Europe. n. an inhabitant of mainland Europe. Phrases and idioms: continental breakfast a light breakfast of coffee, rolls,… …
56continental — adj. & n. adj. 1 of or characteristic of a continent. 2 (Continental) Brit. of, relating to, or characteristic of mainland Europe. n. an inhabitant of mainland Europe. Phrases and idioms: continental breakfast a light breakfast of coffee, rolls,… …
57shelf break — Region where the continental shelf and continental slope meet; that is, where the more gently sloping region of the seabed adjacent to a landmass rather abruptly slopes steeply down towards the ocean depths; commonly around depths of 200 m …
58shelf break — region where the continental shelf and continental slope meet; i.e. where the more gently sloping region of the seabed adjacent to a landmass rather abruptly slopes steeply down towards the ocean depths; commonly around depths of 200 m. May be… …
59shelf-slope — a line marking a change from the gently inclined continental shelf to the much steeper depth gradient of the continental slope …
60continental block — noun or continental mass : continent 6 * * * continental block, a block of the earth s crust consisting of a continent and its continental shelf; continental mass: »Forces in the ocean floor slowly move to squeeze the sediment and cement it… …
