Coastal and Oceanic Landform (02.Abyssal Plain)

02.Abyssal Plain                                                                                                                     Back to Coastal and Oceanic Landforms

• Abyssal plains cover more than 50% of the Earth’s surface.

• An abyssal plain also known as underwater plain on the deep ocean floor.

• It usually depths between 3000 -6000 m.

• These submarine surfaces  depth only from 10 -100 cm per kilometre of horizontal distance. 

• Abyssal plains consist of beds of volcanic rock topped with sediments that are up to thousands of feet thick.

• They are  the flattest, smoothest ,least explored on Earth.

• Abyssal plains result from the blanketing surface of oceanic crust.

• Fine-grained sediments are clay & silt.

• Sediment is deposited by turbidity currents.

•  These have been  channelled from the continental margins along submarine canyons down into deeper water.

• Concentrations of metals are; 

                                       -Manganese

                                       -Iron

                                       -Nickel

                                       -Cobalt

                                       -Copper.

•  Abyssal plains are most common in the Atlantic & the Pacific.

• Abyssal plains are  major reservoir of biodiversity.

•  The abyss exerts ocean carbon cycling.

• Dissolution of Calcium carbonate & Atmospheric CO₂ 

• Many species have adapted to the harsh conditions. They eat a “snow” of dead organic matter that falls from the upper layers of the ocean. Because of the cold, they have slow metabolisms.