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What is a Continental Shelf?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

The continental shelf is an undersea extension of a continent that can stretch a great distance out to sea in some cases. Many nations have asserted mineral and land rights to their associated continental shelves, since this region of the ocean is rich in natural resources such as marine life. Minerals in this area are also significantly easier to extract than minerals on the floor of the ocean, since it is relatively shallow by comparison. By convention, many countries defend their continental shelves as territorial waters, since they are concerned about the exploitation of their natural resources.

There are actually several parts to a continental shelf. The first part is the shelf itself, which starts below the shoreline of a continent. The shelf slopes gently as it stretches towards the deeper part of the ocean, until it reaches a certain point and drops off sharply, causing the waters above to rapidly become much deeper. This drop is called the continental break, and it occurs uniformly at around 460 feet (140 meters) of depth. It has been theorized that the continental break may mark the former sea level of the world's oceans.

The continental shelf off the coast of Chile is known for being particularly short.
The continental shelf off the coast of Chile is known for being particularly short.

After the continental break, the shelf takes a sharp downward turn, creating a geological feature called the continental slope. This feature transitions into the continental rise, a deposit of sediments that forms as a result of river and stream run off from the neighboring continent. Beyond the continental rise, one finds the ocean floor, along with a host of fascinating plant and animal life that remains largely unexplored due to the inaccessibility of much of the ocean floor.

The waters of continental shelves are known for being rich in marine life.
The waters of continental shelves are known for being rich in marine life.

In some instances, the continental shelf is very short, as is the case in subduction zones where one tectonic plate is being sucked below another. A well known example can be found in the waters off the coast of Chile. In other cases, extension stretches for many miles (or kilometers) out to sea. The feature is often visible from overhead, if the viewer looks for a marked change in the color of the water that reflects a sudden change in depth.

When a continental shelf is short, it can create a subduction zone.
When a continental shelf is short, it can create a subduction zone.

A continental shelf is not necessarily flat. It may be marked with deep valleys and other geological features that may continue out to the abyssal plain, the deepest part of the ocean. The shelf is also covered in a thick layer of nutrient rich sediment that is deposited by rivers and streams. These nutrients support varied and diverse marine life including seaweeds, fish, and many microscopic organisms, like dinoflagellates and other plankton.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a continental shelf?

A continental shelf will be short in places where one tectonic plate is being sucked below another.
A continental shelf will be short in places where one tectonic plate is being sucked below another.

A continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent, which lies submerged under the ocean at relatively shallow depths, typically extending from the coastline to a drop-off point known as the shelf break. This underwater landmass generally has a gentle slope and can extend out to 200 nautical miles from the shore. The shelf plays a crucial role in marine ecosystems, providing habitat for a vast array of marine life.

How wide is the average continental shelf?

The width of continental shelves varies globally, but on average, they extend about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the shore. However, this can range from a few kilometers in some places to hundreds of kilometers in others, such as off the coasts of Siberia and the Arctic regions. These variations are influenced by geological and historical factors, including glacial and river sediment deposition.

What is the significance of the continental shelf to marine life?

The continental shelf is of immense ecological importance as it is home to a high concentration of marine organisms. It provides essential habitats for spawning, nursery grounds, and feeding for numerous species. The shelf's relatively shallow waters allow sunlight to penetrate, fostering photosynthesis and supporting rich biodiversity, from plankton to larger fish and marine mammals.

What economic resources are found on the continental shelf?

Continental shelves are rich in resources, including vast reserves of oil and natural gas. According to the United States Geological Survey, an estimated 30% of the world's oil and gas discoveries are offshore, much of which is located on continental shelves. Additionally, these areas are prime for fishing, sand and gravel extraction, and can also be suitable for renewable energy infrastructure like wind farms.

How does the Law of the Sea Treaty relate to continental shelves?

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) outlines the rights of coastal states over their continental shelves. Under this treaty, nations have sovereign rights for exploring and exploiting the natural resources within 200 nautical miles of their coast, or to the edge of the continental margin. This includes jurisdiction over mineral and biological resources on and below the seabed.

Are continental shelves at risk from climate change?

Continental shelves are indeed affected by climate change, particularly due to rising sea levels and increasing ocean temperatures. These changes can lead to shifts in marine ecosystems, affecting the distribution and abundance of species. Additionally, melting polar ice can alter sediment deposition and nutrient distribution, which can have cascading effects on the food web and overall health of marine environments.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a AllThingsNature researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

Fiorite

@ Arunil- The width of the continental shelf has to do with plate tectonics and plate boundaries. If you look at a map of the continental shelves, you will notice that they are narrowest around plate boundaries, especially subduction zones. They are thickest in the Polar Regions where there are no tectonic forces causing the plates to diverge and converge on one another.

They are also thick in regions where there are islands within a few hundred miles of shore and the shelves of these landmasses connect with the shelf of the continents. These regions around New Zealand, Japan, Indonesia, Madagascar and the Seychelles, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom and northern Europe have bigger shelf seas for this reason.

Since these regions are less active seismically, there is less mass wasting and coastal subsidence to erode the coastal shelf. The result is a shelf break further away from shore.

arunil

So, you write that the continental break occurs when the shelf reaches about 460 feet in depth - but what determines when the shelf reaches that depth? What I mean is why does the shelf extend a relatively short distance in some cases (not including the subduction zones) but miles and miles in others?

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    • The continental shelf off the coast of Chile is known for being particularly short.
      By: ALCE
      The continental shelf off the coast of Chile is known for being particularly short.
    • The waters of continental shelves are known for being rich in marine life.
      By: Zacarias da Mata
      The waters of continental shelves are known for being rich in marine life.
    • When a continental shelf is short, it can create a subduction zone.
      By: Andrea Danti
      When a continental shelf is short, it can create a subduction zone.
    • A continental shelf will be short in places where one tectonic plate is being sucked below another.
      A continental shelf will be short in places where one tectonic plate is being sucked below another.