What term describes the shallow water surrounding land at the edge of the ocean basins?

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Prepare for the NES Earth and Space Science (307) Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations to enhance your understanding and boost your confidence. Excel in your exam preparation!

Multiple Choice

What term describes the shallow water surrounding land at the edge of the ocean basins?

Explanation:
Continental shelf. It’s the submerged fringe of a continent where the water stays relatively shallow as you move away from the coastline, extending from the shore to the shelf break before the depth drops more steeply at the continental slope. This nearshore, shallow region contrasts with abyssal plains that lie far out in the deep ocean, trenches that are deep narrow depressions, and mid-ocean ridges which are underwater mountain chains in the open ocean. So the term that best fits the description of the shallow water surrounding land at the edge of the ocean basins is the continental shelf.

Continental shelf. It’s the submerged fringe of a continent where the water stays relatively shallow as you move away from the coastline, extending from the shore to the shelf break before the depth drops more steeply at the continental slope. This nearshore, shallow region contrasts with abyssal plains that lie far out in the deep ocean, trenches that are deep narrow depressions, and mid-ocean ridges which are underwater mountain chains in the open ocean. So the term that best fits the description of the shallow water surrounding land at the edge of the ocean basins is the continental shelf.

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