Related Words

Oceanic: Associated with sea-water environments seaward of the shelf-slope break

National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): A branch of the U.S. Department of Commerce, it is the parent organization of the National Weather Service. It promotes global environmental stewardship, emphasizing atmospheric and marine r . . . View Full Definition

Oceanic Ridge: A sinuous ridge rising from the deep-sea floor

National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS): An agency within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) at the Department of Commerce. NMFS administers programs that support the domestic and international conservation . . . View Full Definition

Joint Agricultural Weather Facility (JAWF): Created in 1978, the facility is a cooperative effort between USDA’s World Agricultural Outlook Board and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Department of Commer . . . View Full Definition

Coast And Geodetic Survey: A former name of the National Ocean Service. The organization was known as: Survey of the Coast from its founding in 1807 to 1836, Coast Survey from 1836 to 1878, Coast and Geodetic Survey f . . . View Full Definition

Basalt: A dark-colored fine-grained extrusive igneous rock composed largely of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene. Similar in composition to gabbro. Basalt is thought to be one of the main components . . . View Full Definition

Cyclonic Ring: A meander breaking off from the main oceanic current and spinning in a counter-clockwise direction in the northern hemisphere (clockwise in southern).

Subduction Zone: An area at a convergent plate boundary where an oceanic plate is being forced down into the mantle beneath another plate. These can be identified by a zone of progressively deeper earthquakes.

Trench: Deep and sinuous depression in the ocean floor, usually seaward of a continental margin or an arcuate group of volcanic islands