Ocean Basin

Oceanic basins include flanking continental shelves and shallow, epeiric seas. Oceanic basins may be actively changing size or may be inactive, depending on whether there is a moving Plate Tectonic boundary associated with it. The elements of an active - and growing - oceanic basin include an elevated Mid-ocean Ridge , flanking Abyssal Hill s leading down to Abyssal Plain s. The elements of an active - and shrinking - oceanic basin include an Oceanic Trench associated with a Subduction Zone .

The Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean are a good examples of active, growing oceanic basins, whereas the Mediterranean Sea is shrinking. The Pacific Ocean is also an active, shrinking oceanic basin, even though it has both spreading ridge and oceanic trench. Perhaps the best example of an inactive oceanic basin is the Gulf Of Mexico , which formed in Jurassic times and has been doing nothing but collecting sediments since then. The Sea Of Japan and Bering Sea are also good examples of inactive oceanic basins.

Major basins include:

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Ocean Basin