Abyssal plain

When we talk about the ocean floor and the general structure of the oceans, we talk about the abyssal plain. People often confuse this term with Continental platform, but it has multiple differences. The abyssal plain is what we call the portion of a continent that sinks into the ocean and forms a surface with a flat trend. It normally has a depth between 2.000 and 6.000 meters below sea level.

In this article we are going to tell you about all the characteristics, importance, flora and fauna of the abyssal plain.

Key features

It is a portion of the continental surface that is very easy to identify since its profile is almost completely horizontal. There are great morphological differences with the aquatic terrain that surrounds it. There are usually steep drops like continental slopes before reaching the abyssal plains. Once we have passed this morphology we also find new abrupt drops. These falls are the ocean trenches and the abyssal abysses.

There are scientists who estimate that all these gentle slopes of the oceans they can form 40% of the ocean floor. Thanks to these so flat and deep terrains, one can find the largest sediment deposits on the entire planet. The main characteristic can be said that its terrain is almost completely flat. They have a small inclination but it is practically imperceptible due to the vast extensions in which it develops.

Throughout the abyssal plains, different amounts of sediments are deposited that are caused by natural processes outside the continent. These processes mainly caused by geological agents external factors alone that cause sediments to be deposited in the sea. The sediments travel through the currents and settle at different depths, covering the gaps. Thanks to this, plains are formed that they register up to 800 meters of sedimented matter.

Sunlight does not usually reach these depths so the temperature is extremely low. There are areas where the temperature almost reaches the freezing point. With these extreme environmental conditions a specific flora and fauna develops. It is a mistake to think that life does not develop in this region. All living things end up adapting to existing environmental conditions.

Location and elements of the abyssal plain

Most of these plains are concentrated in the Atlantic Ocean. There are some plains in the Indian Ocean but they occupy less area. The main elements that the abyssal plains have are the following:

  • Volcanic hills: these are elements that have been formed thanks to the accumulation of material. This material comes from volcanic eruptions under the sea. The material accumulates after the events of different eruptions and creates a small ridge with well-defined edges and side walls.
  • Volcanic islands: It is another form of relief that these plains exist and they are volcanic hills that, due to their constant and abundant activity, have emerged to the surface. Sometimes they even rise several hundred meters above sea level.
  • Hydrothermal vents: These are areas with strange formations in which very high temperature waters emanate. Although the immediate environment of these vents is around 2 degrees, close to freezing, water with temperatures between 60 and 500 degrees can come out of these vents. It must be taken into account that at these depths where the abyssal plains are found there is great pressure and the water is capable of maintaining its liquid state despite its high temperature. This is known as supercritical fluid. The combination between pressure and salinity concentration means that water can change its physical properties and is continuously in the range between liquid and gas.
  • Cold filtrationAlthough it is not a physical element as such, it is a phenomenon that only occurs in this plains. It is a kind of lagoon where a large amount of hydrocarbons, hydrogen sulfide and methane are concentrated. These gases float in the depths. You could say that it is as if it were a drop of oil in a glass of water it was a large scale. Over time these concentrations are decanted and degraded until they disappear.
  • guyot: it is another formation whose origin is volcanic. It is a rocky structure with a tubular shape and sometimes it manages to emerge to the surface. However, its top is almost flattened, which indicates that it could have been eroded by the action of the wind.

Flora and fauna of the abyssal plain

Abyssal plain

When these plains were discovered they were thought to be vast expanses of lifeless land. As with the deserts on the continents, the same was true of these plains in the deep ocean. When having a great complication when visiting these plains it was thought that there was not both flora and fauna life. However, numerous studies have discovered a great biodiversity of species that interact both in these places and in the surrounding structures.

Since in these depths sunlight does not reach there is no type of plant species capable of photosynthesis. Where life can be concentrated is in the hydrothermal vents which is where a heat conversion process takes place. Chemosynthesis also occurs here, which is a process used by plant species to be part of the food chain of the seabed.

As for the fauna, if it is richer and more diverse. There are about 17000-20000 species, although there may be more. They are invertebrates such as crustaceans, accused, snails, bacteria, protozoa and fish with somewhat ghostly and strange appearances. These species are poorly studied due to the difficulty of reaching the ocean floor.

As you can see, these are places still unknown to humans but full of secrets and curiosities. I hope that with this information you can learn more about the abyssal plains.


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