Bottom Topography of the Atlantic Ocean is very vast and it is the second largest ocean in the world, covering approximately 20% of the Earth’s surface. It is bounded by the Americas to the west and Europe and Africa to the east. The ocean is named after the ancient Greek mythological figure Atlas, who was said to hold up the sky.
The Atlantic Ocean is divided into two major regions: the North Atlantic and the South Atlantic. The North Atlantic is the more heavily trafficked of the two and is known for its major shipping lanes, including those that connect Europe and North America. The South Atlantic is known for its strong currents and rough seas, which have made it challenging for mariners throughout history.
The Atlantic Ocean is also home to a variety of marine life, including whales, dolphins, sharks, and a wide range of fish and invertebrates. The ocean’s coastal regions are also important habitats for numerous species of birds and other animals.
Overall, the Atlantic Ocean has played an important role in human history, from the exploration and colonization of the Americas to the development of global trade and commerce. The Atlantic Ocean has a diverse bottom topography, with different regions exhibiting distinct features.
Here are some of the notable topographic features of the Atlantic Ocean:
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge:
In bottom topography of the Atlantic ocean is consists of the ,Mid-Atlantic Ridge which is a massive underwater mountain range that runs down the Centre of the Atlantic Ocean, from the Arctic Ocean to the Southern Ocean, spanning a distance of about 16,000 km. It is the longest mountain range in the world, stretching from Iceland in the north to the Antarctic region in the south. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is formed by the divergence of two tectonic plates that make up the Atlantic Ocean floor, causing magma to rise up and solidify, forming new crust. The ridge is marked by numerous volcanic mountains, rift valleys, and other geological features.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an important site for scientific research, as it provides a unique window into the Earth’s interior and its geological history. Scientists use research vessels and deep-sea submersibles to explore the ridge and study its geology, chemistry, and biology. One of the most significant discoveries made at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the existence of hydrothermal vents, which are hot springs on the seafloor that support unique ecosystems of organisms that thrive in the extreme conditions.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge also has significant economic importance, as it is a source of mineral resources such as manganese nodules and cobalt-rich crusts. In addition, the ridge plays a crucial role in shaping the ocean’s currents and climate patterns, and understanding its geological processes is important for predicting and mitigating natural disasters such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
The continental shelf:
The continental shelf is the relatively shallow, gently sloping area surrounding the continents and extending into the Atlantic Ocean to an average depth of about 200 meters. It is a biologically rich and economically important region, supporting a variety of marine life and valuable resources such as oil, natural gas, and minerals.
The continental shelf of the Atlantic Ocean varies in width and depth, with the widest and shallowest shelves located in the northern regions, such as the Barents Sea off the coast of Norway, and the narrowest and deepest shelves located in the southern regions, such as the coast of West Africa.
The continental shelf is an important area for fishing, as it provides important habitats for commercially valuable fish species such as cod, haddock, and flounder. The shelf is also an important area for oil and gas exploration and production, with significant reserves located off the coasts of North and South America, Europe, and Africa.
In addition, the continental shelf plays a crucial role in ocean circulation and climate patterns, as it helps to regulate the transfer of heat and nutrients between the land and sea. Changes to the continental shelf due to natural or human causes, such as sea level rise or coastal development, can have significant impacts on marine ecosystems and coastal communities.
Abyssal plains:
Abyssal plains are vast, flat regions of the ocean floor that lie at depths of 3,000 to 6,000 meters in the Atlantic Ocean. These regions cover about 40% of the ocean floor and are among the most widespread and least explored environments on Earth. The abyssal plains of the Atlantic Ocean are characterized by their relatively featureless terrain, although some areas are marked by seamounts and other underwater features.
Despite their apparent simplicity, abyssal plains are important habitats for a variety of marine life, including deep-sea corals, sponges, and other invertebrates. These organisms have adapted to the extreme conditions of the deep sea, such as the high pressure, low temperature, and lack of sunlight. Abyssal plains are also important for their role in ocean circulation and the carbon cycle, as they provide a sink for organic carbon that sinks to the ocean floor.
Abyssal plains are also of interest to scientists studying the Earth’s geology and tectonic activity. By studying the sediment and rock layers of the abyssal plains, scientists can learn about the history of the Earth’s climate and the movement of tectonic plates. The abyssal plains of the Atlantic Ocean are home to some of the world’s largest oceanic plateaus, including the Bermuda Rise and the Walvis Ridge, which have been formed by volcanic activity and tectonic processes over millions of years.
Trenches:
Bottom Topography of the Atlantic Ocean is home to several deep ocean trenches, which are long, narrow, and extremely deep depressions in the seafloor. These trenches are formed at the boundaries where two tectonic plates converge, with one plate sliding beneath the other in a process called subduction. Here are some of the major trenches in the Atlantic Ocean.
Puerto Rico Trench: Located in the western Atlantic, the Puerto Rico Trench is the deepest point in the Atlantic Ocean, with a depth of over 8,300 meters. It is also one of the deepest oceanic trenches in the world.
Romanche Trench: Located in the equatorial Atlantic, the Romanche Trench is the second-deepest trench in the Atlantic Ocean, with a depth of over 7,700 meters.
South Sandwich Trench: Located in the South Atlantic, the South Sandwich Trench is the deepest trench in the southern Atlantic Ocean, with a depth of over 7,200 meters.
Iberian Abyssal Plain: While not technically a trench, the Iberian Abyssal Plain is a vast, relatively flat region of the Atlantic Ocean that is one of the deepest regions of the seafloor. It lies off the coast of Spain and Portugal and reaches depths of over 5,000 meters.
Trenches are also of interest to the mining industry, as they may contain valuable mineral resources such as manganese nodules and polymetallic sulphides. However, mining activities in these fragile and ecologically important areas are highly controversial and require careful management to minimize environmental impacts.
Seamounts:
Seamounts are underwater mountains or volcanoes that rise from the seafloor but do not reach the ocean surface. The Atlantic Ocean is home to numerous seamounts, which are important habitats for a variety of marine life.
Seamounts in the Atlantic Ocean vary widely in size and shape, from small, isolated peaks to large chains or clusters of mountains. They are often located in areas where tectonic plates meet, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge or the Azores Plateau, and are thought to be formed by volcanic activity or other geological processes.
Seamounts are important habitats for a variety of marine life, including corals, sponges, and fish. They provide a refuge for deep-sea species, which may be adapted to the specific environmental conditions of each seamount. Seamounts can also act as stepping stones or “oases” in the vast expanse of the deep ocean, allowing species to disperse and colonize new areas.
In addition to their ecological importance, seamounts may also have economic value as sources of mineral resources or potential sites for fishing or aquaculture. However, these activities can also have negative impacts on seamount ecosystems and require careful management to minimize environmental damage.
Some of the notable seamounts in the Atlantic Ocean include the Atlantis Seamount, the New England Seamount chain, and the Gorringe Bank off the coast of Portugal.
Bottom Topography The Atlantic Ocean, it still has vast portion for scientific research.
Useful content for the Coastal Geomorphology paper.