Author Question: List and describe the three basic types of seafloor sediments. Give at least one example of each. ... (Read 58 times)

clippers!

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 828
List and describe the three basic types of seafloor sediments. Give at least one example of each.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Why are seafloor sediments useful in studying past climates?
 
  What will be an ideal response?



frankwu0507

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 322
Answer to Question 1

Terrigenous derived from land sediment consists primarily of mineral grains that were weathered from continental rocks and transported to the ocean, such as example, the abyssal clay layer that forms in the deep ocean. Biogenous derived from organisms sediment consists of shells and skeletons of marine animals and algae; the most common biogenous sediment is calcareous ooze. Hydrogenous derived from water sediment consists of minerals that crystallize directly from seawater through various chemical reactions, such as manganese nodules, which are rounded, hard lumps of manganese, iron, and other metals that precipitate in concentric layers around a central object.

Answer to Question 2

Most seafloor sediments contain the remains of organisms that once lived near the sea surface. When such near-surface organisms die, their shells slowly settle to the floor of the ocean, where they become part of the sedimentary record. These seafloor sediments are useful recorders of worldwide climate change because the numbers and types of organisms living near the sea surface change with the climate. One notable example of the importance of seafloor sediments to our understanding of climate change relates to unraveling the fluctuating atmospheric conditions of the Ice Age.



Related Topics

Need homework help now?

Ask unlimited questions for free

Ask a Question
 

Did you know?

Eat fiber! A diet high in fiber can help lower cholesterol levels by as much as 10%.

Did you know?

The training of an anesthesiologist typically requires four years of college, 4 years of medical school, 1 year of internship, and 3 years of residency.

Did you know?

According to animal studies, the typical American diet is damaging to the liver and may result in allergies, low energy, digestive problems, and a lack of ability to detoxify harmful substances.

Did you know?

Malaria mortality rates are falling. Increased malaria prevention and control measures have greatly improved these rates. Since 2000, malaria mortality rates have fallen globally by 60% among all age groups, and by 65% among children under age 5.

Did you know?

Hyperthyroidism leads to an increased rate of metabolism and affects about 1% of women but only 0.1% of men. For most people, this increased metabolic rate causes the thyroid gland to become enlarged (known as a goiter).

For a complete list of videos, visit our video library