hw #1 - Thomas Ronan Fluid Earth Hw#1 Page 87 1 Most people think an ocean resembles a bath tub in the fact that from the edge of the continents that

Thomas Ronan Fluid Earth 2/22/08 Hw #1 Page 87: 1.) Most people think an ocean resembles a bath tub in the fact that from the edge of the continents that land drops off quickly and that the deepest part of the ocean is somewhere in the middle much like the shape of a bathtub. Modern bathymetry is what changed their mind. Bathymetry is the study of the sea floor contours. Modern bathymetry is accomplished using advanced echo sounding techniques using multibeam sound pulses that measure the distance to the ocean floor. Another new technique in modern bathymetry is satellite altimetry they can calculate the height of the ocean water within an inch due to their highly sensitive radar equipment. The Geosat, satellite, for example has greatly aided in mapping of the ocean floor. 5.) Abyssal plains are relatively rare in the Pacific due to perirpheral trenches that tend to trap most of the sediment run off from the continents which impedes the formation of abyssal plains.