continental slope
1
7.4
- noun
- /ˌkɒntɪˈnɛntl sloʊp/
- Specialized
:
pendiente continental
- The complex geology of the continental slope produces some of the weirdest features on our planet.
- the upper continental slope
- continental slope waters
Examples
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They plan to focus on three circular, flat-topped mounds on the continental slope.
Blog text (22) -
Where the continental shelf ends, it drops off in a gentle incline, called the continental slope.
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Trawlers working on continental slopes alone cover about half the area of the United States.
Blog text (26) -
Yet a host of strange creatures thrive on the gases that seep out of the continental slope
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However, the mounds on the continental slope are in about 300 to 800 meters of water.
Blog text (22) -
The smaller red rectangle indicates the edge of the continental shelf and continental slope where they will conduct research during their current expedition.
Blog text (22) -
Undersea landslides are common along the continental slope of the Beaufort Sea, but researchers do not yet know when or how they form.
Blog text (22) -
Although these deep-water crab stocks are likely to be small and restricted in comparison to those on the continental slopes, they should be easier to define and hence manage effectively.
Academic text (1992) -
The 2012 expedition will focus on three large gas-venting structures on the continental slope, at depths of 290 to 790 meters (950 to 2,600 feet).
Blog text (22) -
The marine biologist conducted research on the diverse ecosystems found on the continental slope near the coast.
Synonyms
A steep part of the ocean floor 200 to 2000 meters deep
How Steep
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning — a sloping part of the seafloor associated with a continent — is directly derivable from 'continental' (of the continent) + 'slope' (an inclined surface). Although somewhat technical, the compound follows ordinary noun-modifying composition and parallels in other languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would infer the general meaning.
Etymology
Continental slope is a simple picture: the continent drops away like a steep hill, the slope, under the sea toward the deep water. So, it means 'the steep part of the sea floor next to the continent'.