The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean after the Pacific Ocean and it is approx 50 % of the Pacific area. It is named after the Atlas mountain of Africa( Morocco ). North America and Europe, and South America and Africa were united in the geological past. Wegener also proofed it. The tectonic rift around 200 million years ago created the Atlantic Ocean between them.

• At present, North America is moving-away in the northwestern direction and Europe is moving-away in the southeast direction.
• At present, the Atlantic Ocean is spreading at a rate of approx 4cm per year.

Continental Shelf:

• Continental shelves have developed along both the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the width ranges from 2-4 km to more than 80 km.
• In fact, the width of continental shelves has been largely control by the reliefs of the coastal lands.
• These become significantly narrow where mountains and hills border the coasts e.g., the African shelves between Bay of Biscay and Cape of Good Hope and Brazilian shelves between 5°S and 10°S latitudes.
• The shelves become 200 to 400 km wide along the north-eastern coast of North America and the north-western coast of Europe.
• Extensive shelves are found around Newfoundland (Grand Bank) and British Islands (Doggar Bank).
• Similarly, the conti­nental shelves around Greenland and Iceland are quite wide.
• The South Atlantic Ocean exhibits very extensive continental shelves, primarily found between Bahia Blanca and Antarctica.
• Many marginal seas are located on the continental shelves in the North Atlantic but such seas are practically absent in the South Atlan­tic.
• Among the continental shelf-seated seas signifi­cant are the Hudson Bay, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, the Davis Strait, the Denmark Strait etc.
• The Caribbean and Mediterranean seas represent enclosed seas.
• There are several islands which are located on the continental shelves e.g. British Isles, Iceland, Faeroes, Azores, Ascension, Tristan da Cuncha, Newfoundland, West Indies, Maderia, St. Helena, Trinidad, Falkland, South Orkneys, Shetlands,Georgia, Sandwitch, Canaries, Cape Verde etc. are significant islands representing different locations and origin.

Mid-Atlantic Ridge:

• The mid-Atlantic ridge is a chain of mountains that has a volcanic origin. It lies in the middle of the Atlantic ocean starting from the Norwegian basin in the north to approx 58 degrees south latitude.
• Approximately length of the mid-Atlantic ridge is 1600 km.

Ocean Basins:

• The mid-Atlantic Ridge divides the Atlantic Ocean into two major basins . East and West Atlantic Basins.

Ocean Deeps:

• The number of deeps in the Atlantic Ocean is far less than in the Pacific Ocean because of the absence of the effects of Tertiary orogenic movements along the Atlantic coasts. 
• The Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico are significant marginal seas in the Atlantic Ocean.
• The Mediterranean Sea is divides into two major basins (East and West Basins) by 4,000m deep mid-sea ridge which runs from the southern Italian coast to the north African coast.
• Nares Deep (6,000m), Pureto Rico Deep (8,385m), Hatteras Deep (5,445m), Columbia Deep (5,125m, south of Haiti), Valdivia Deep (3,134 fathoms), Tizard or Romanche Deep (9,370m), Buchanan Deep (3,063 fath­oms), Moseley Deep (3,309 fathoms), Vema Deep (4,900m) etc. are a few important ocean deeps of the Atlantic Ocean.

Marginal Seas

• The Mediterranean Sea, Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico are significant marginal seas in the Atlantic Ocean.
• A 4,000m deep mid-sea ridge, which runs from the southern Italian coast to the north African coast, divides the Mediterranean Sea into two major basins (East and West Basins).
• A 1,600 m deep ridge running between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba Island separates the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
• The prominent basins are Mexico basin and Caribbean basin.
• The latter is further divides into four sub-basins e.g. Yucatan basin, Cayman trough, Columbia basin and Venezuela basin.

FAQs related to Bottom Reliefs Of The Atlantic Ocean

Ques 1.What are the bottom reliefs of the Atlantic Ocean?

Answer: The bottom reliefs of the Atlantic Ocean refer to the various features and formations found on its seabed. These include continental shelves, continental slopes, abyssal plains, seamounts, oceanic ridges, and deep-sea trenches, among others.

Ques 2. How are the bottom reliefs of the Atlantic Ocean formed?

Answer: Geological processes such as plate tectonics, volcanic activity, erosion, and sediment deposition influence the formation of the bottom reliefs in the Atlantic Ocean. For example, The movement of tectonic plates creates oceanic ridges, while volcanic activity forms seamounts. Erosion and sedimentation play a role in shaping the continental shelves and slopes.

Ques 3.What is the significance of the bottom reliefs in the Atlantic Ocean?

Answer: The bottom reliefs of the Atlantic Ocean are of great importance for various reasons. They provide essential habitats for marine life, supporting diverse ecosystems and serving as breeding and feeding grounds for various species. Additionally, these features play a crucial role in ocean circulation patterns and climate regulation. Furthermore, the exploration and study of the bottom reliefs contribute to our understanding of Earth’s geological history and the potential for valuable resources, such as minerals and hydrocarbons, in the deep-sea environments.

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