Content deleted Content added
m |
|||
Line 3: [[Image:oceanic spreading.svg|thumb|250px|right|Oceanic crust is formed at an oceanic ridge, while the lithosphere is subducted back into the asthenosphere at trenches.]] '''Marine geology''' or '''geological oceanography''' is the study of the history and structure of the ocean floor. It involves [[geophysical]], [[geochemistry|geochemical]], [[sedimentology|sedimentological]] and [[paleontological]] investigations of the [[ocean floor]] and [[coastal zone]]. Marine geology has strong ties to [[geophysics]] and to [[physical oceanography]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Erickson |first=Jon |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/32626212 |title=Marine geology : undersea landforms and life forms |date=1996 |publisher=Facts on File |isbn=0-8160-3354-4 |location=New York |oclc=32626212}}</ref>. Marine geological studies were of extreme importance in providing the critical evidence for [[sea floor spreading]] and [[plate tectonics]] in the years following World War II. The deep ocean floor is the last essentially unexplored frontier and detailed mapping in support of both military (submarine) objectives and economic ([[petroleum]] and [[metal]] [[mining]]) objectives drives the research.– ==Overview== [[Image:Marianatrenchmap.png|thumb|left|A trench forms at the boundary where two tectonic plates meet]] The [[Pacific Ring of Fire|Ring of Fire]] around the [[Pacific Ocean]] with its attendant intense [[volcanism]] and [[seismic]] activity poses a major threat for disastrous [[earthquake]]s, [[tsunami]]s and volcanic eruptions<ref>{{Cite web |title=What is the Ring of Fire? : Ocean Exploration Facts: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research |url=https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/facts/rof.html |access-date=2023-02-10 |website=oceanexplorer.noaa.gov |language=en-US}}</ref>. Any ''early warning'' systems for these disastrous events will require a more detailed understanding of marine geology of coastal and [[island arc]] environments. The study of [[littoral]] and deep sea sedimentation and the precipitation and dissolution rates of [[calcium carbonate]] in various marine environments has important implications for global [[climate change]]<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Atwood |first=Trisha B. |last2=Witt |first2=Andrew |last3=Mayorga |first3=Juan |last4=Hammill |first4=Edd |last5=Sala |first5=Enric |date=2020 |title=Global Patterns in Marine Sediment Carbon Stocks |url=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmars.2020.00165 |journal=Frontiers in Marine Science |volume=7 |doi=10.3389/fmars.2020.00165/full |issn=2296-7745}}</ref>. The discovery and continued study of [[Mid-oceanic ridge|mid-ocean rift]] zone volcanism and [[hydrothermal vent]]s, first in the [[Red Sea]] and later along the [[East Pacific Rise]] and the [[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]] systems were and continue to be important areas of marine geological research. The [[extremophile]] organisms discovered living within and adjacent to those hydrothermal systems have had a pronounced impact on our understanding of life on Earth and potentially the [[origin of life]] within such an environment<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Merino |first=Nancy |last2=Aronson |first2=Heidi S. |last3=Bojanova |first3=Diana P. |last4=Feyhl-Buska |first4=Jayme |last5=Wong |first5=Michael L. |last6=Zhang |first6=Shu |last7=Giovannelli |first7=Donato |date=2019 |title=Living at the Extremes: Extremophiles and the Limits of Life in a Planetary Context |url=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2019.00780 |journal=Frontiers in Microbiology |volume=10 |doi=10.3389/fmicb.2019.00780/full |issn=1664-302X}}</ref>. [[Oceanic trench]]es are hemispheric-scale long but narrow topographic depressions of the sea floor. They also are the deepest parts of the ocean floor. == Mariana Trench == The [[Mariana Trench]] (or Marianas Trench) is the deepest known submarine trench, and the deepest location in the Earth's crust itself. It is a [[subduction zone]] where the [[Pacific Plate]] is being subducted under the [[Mariana Plate]]. The bottom of the trench is further below sea level than [[Mount Everest]] is above sea level. {{clear}} Line 32: ==References==
# "What is the Ring of Fire? : Ocean Exploration Facts: NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research". ''oceanexplorer.noaa.gov''. Retrieved 2023-02-10. # Atwood, Trisha B.; Witt, Andrew; Mayorga, Juan; Hammill, Edd; Sala, Enric (2020). "Global Patterns in Marine Sediment Carbon Stocks". ''Frontiers in Marine Science''. '''7'''. [[Doi (identifier)|doi]]:10.3389/fmars.2020.00165/full. [[ISSN (identifier)|ISSN]] 2296-7745. # Merino, Nancy; Aronson, Heidi S.; Bojanova, Diana P.; Feyhl-Buska, Jayme; Wong, Michael L.; Zhang, Shu; Giovannelli, Donato (2019). "Living at the Extremes: Extremophiles and the Limits of Life in a Planetary Context". ''Frontiers in Microbiology''. '''10'''. [[Doi (identifier)|doi]]:10.3389/fmicb.2019.00780/full. [[ISSN (identifier)|ISSN]] 1664-302X. ==External links== | |||