The relief of the bottom of the World Ocean is of interest to many researchers, given that this aspect has not yet been fully studied. In any case, there are mysteries and scientifically inexplicable phenomena that the Pacific Ocean hides in itself. The relief of the bottom of this part of the World Ocean is of great interest to scientists all over the world, therefore, studies of a similar topic are arranged with enviable frequency. It was scientific expeditions studying the bottom of the Pacific Ocean that obtained results that at one time completely changed the human idea not only about the bottom itself, but also about the geological structure of the Earth in general.
Ocean platforms
Features of the topography of the bottom of the Pacific Ocean surprise many researchers. But speaking in order, it is worth starting with the concept of "ocean platforms".
They represent certain areas of the cortex, which have long lost their mobility, as well as the ability to deform. Scientists also distinguish between those parts of the ocean floor that are still quite active at the present time - geosynclines. Such active areas of the cortex are widespread in the Pacificocean, namely in its western part.
Ring of Fire
What is the so-called "ring of fire"? In fact, the Pacific Ocean is located in its very center, and in this it differs significantly from its relatives. For your information, there are currently approximately 600 volcanoes registered on land, but 418 of them are located on the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
There are volcanoes that do not stop their violent activity even in our time. This applies primarily to the famous Fuji, as well as Klyuchevskaya Sopka. There are volcanoes that remain apparently calm for quite a long period, but at one moment they can suddenly turn into fire-breathing monsters. For example, it is said about such a volcano as Bandai-San in Japan. As a result of his awakening, several villages were affected.
Scientists have even registered a volcano at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.
Awakened volcanoes of the "Ring of Fire"
In addition to the famous and world-famous awakened Bandai-San volcano, many more similar cases have been recorded. For example, Bezymyanny volcano, located in one of the regions of Kamchatka, declared itself to the whole world in the 1950s. When he woke up from centuries of sleep, seismologists could register approximately 150-200 earthquakes per day.
Its eruption shocked many researchers, some of whom could later say with certainty that it was oneof the most violent volcanic paroxysms of the last century. The only thing that pleases is the absence of settlements and people in the eruption area.
And here is another "monster" - Ruiz volcano in Colombia. His awakening killed over 20,000 people.
Hawaiian Islands
In fact, what we see is just the tip of the iceberg that hides the Pacific Ocean. The features of its relief consist mainly in the fact that a rather long chain of volcanoes stretches along the center. And it is the Hawaiian Islands that are the top of the underwater Hawaiian Ridge, which is considered a large volcanic cluster with a length of more than 2000 kilometers.
The Hawaiian Ridge stretches all the way to the Midway Atolls, as well as Kure, which are located in the northwest.
Hawaii itself is made up of five active, closed volcanoes, some of which can be over four kilometers high. This applies primarily to the volcanoes of Mauna Kea, as well as Mauna Loa. The most interesting thing is that if you measure the height of the Maun Loa volcano from the very sole, which is located at the bottom of the ocean, it turns out that its height is more than ten kilometers.
Pacific Trench
The most fascinating ocean, and also one that hides many secrets, is the Pacific Ocean. The bottom relief surprises with its diversity and is a ground for reflection for many scientists.
To a greater extent, this applies to the Pacific Ocean depression, which has a depth of up to 4300 meters, while such formations are the mostremarkable element for scientific research. The most famous around the world are Challenger, Galatea, Emden, Cape Johnson, Planet, Snellius, Tuscarora, Ramalo. For example, the Challenger has a depth of 11 thousand 33 meters, followed by Galatea with its depth of 10 thousand 539 meters. The depth of Emden is 10,399 meters, while Cape Johnson has a depth of 10,497 meters. The “shallowest” is the Tuscarora depression with its maximum depth along its entire length of 8,513 meters.
Seamounts
If you are ever asked: "Describe the topography of the Pacific Ocean," you can immediately start talking about seamounts, because this is what will immediately interest your interlocutor. At the bottom of this wonderful ocean there are many seamounts called "guyotes". They are characterized by their flat tops, but they can be at a depth of approximately 1.5 kilometers, and even much deeper.
The scientists' main theory is that previously seamounts were active volcanoes that rose above sea level. Later they were washed out and ended up under water. By the way, the latter fact alarms researchers, because it may also indicate that earlier this part of the cortex experienced a kind of “bending”.
Lodge of the Pacific
Previously, many studies were carried out in this direction, a lot of scientific expeditions were sent in order to better examine the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. A phototestify that the predominant bed of this amazing ocean is composed of red clay. To a lesser extent, blue silt or crushed coral fragments can be found at the bottom.
It is noteworthy that large areas of the Pacific Ocean floor are often covered with diatom, globigerine, radiolarian, and pteropod silt. Another interesting fact is that shark teeth or manganese nodules can be found quite often in various bottom sediments.
General data on the bottom of the Pacific Ocean
The formation of the bottom of the Pacific Ocean is influenced by such factors as exogenous as well as endogenous. The latter are internal and tectonic - they manifest themselves in the form of various underwater earthquakes, the slow movement of the earth's crust, as well as volcanic eruptions. This is what makes the Pacific Ocean interesting. The bottom relief is constantly changing due to the presence of a huge number of volcanoes both on its coast and deep under water. Exogenous factors include various currents, sea waves, and turbidity flows. Such flows are characterized by the fact that they are saturated with solid particles that do not dissolve in water, which at the same time move at great speed and along the slope. It also significantly changes the bottom topography and the vital activity of marine organisms.
Many scientists are very interested in the Pacific Ocean. The bottom relief was conditionally divided into several forms. Namely: the underwater margin of the continents, the transition zone, the ocean floor, as well as the mid-ocean ridges. Of the 73 million sq. km 10% of the underwater marginfalls precisely on the Pacific Ocean.
The mainland slope is a part of the bottom, which has a slope of 3 or 6 degrees, and it is also located at the outer edge of the shelf of the underwater margin. It is noteworthy that off the coast of volcanic or coral islands, which are rich in the Pacific Ocean, the slope can reach 40 or 50 degrees.
The transitional zone is characterized by the presence of secondary forms, which will be arranged in a strict order. Namely, at first the basin of the marginal sea adjoins the continental foot, and from the side of the ocean it will be limited by the steep slopes of mountain ranges. This is quite typical for the Japanese, East China, Mariana, Aleutian transition zones, which are located in the western part of the Pacific Ocean.
