Knowra Continental slope Continental slope The steep seafloor descent from a continental shelf toward the deep ocean basin. It marks the transition from the shallow continental margin to the deep ocean.
Continental shelf : A gently sloping, submerged edge of a continent extending from the shoreline to the shelf break. The shelf ends at the shelf break, where the continental slope begins.
Turbidity current : A dense underwater flow of sediment-laden water that moves downslope under gravity. These currents transport sediment from the slope into deeper water.
Submarine cable : A cable laid on or beneath the seabed to carry telecommunications or electrical power. Steep terrain and sediment instability complicate cable routing and protection.
Monterey Canyon : A submarine canyon off central California that extends from near the coast into the deep ocean. It cuts across the continental slope and channels sediment offshore.
Continental margin : The submerged outer edge of a continent, including its shelf, slope, and rise or trench. The slope is the steep middle region of this broader submerged edge.
Submarine canyon : A steep-sided valley cut into the continental shelf and slope by erosion and sediment flows. Canyons channel sediment-laden currents down the slope.
Submarine cable protection : Engineering measures that reduce damage to seabed cables from burial, anchors, currents, or slope failure. Slope hazards inform where cables need rerouting, burial, or other protection.
Congo Canyon : A submarine canyon off West Africa connected to the Congo River system. It carries river-derived sediment across the shelf and down the slope.
Ocean basin : A large depression in Earth’s crust occupied by ocean water and underlain largely by oceanic crust. The slope descends toward the deep basin beyond the continental margin.
Submarine landslide : The downslope movement of sediment or rock beneath the sea, often along a failure surface. Slope failure can rapidly redistribute sediment and alter the seafloor.
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