Continental slope

Abstract

The continental slope is the steep part of the transition from continent to ocean basin. However, the form of the transition is highly variable from place to place. The “classic” transition is that of the passive continental margin off the northeastern border of the United States, with a steep slope starting at the shelf break and a concave-upward profile. Continental slopes on active margins may descend directly from the shoreline into an oceanic trench. The complexity of the continental breakup process has resulted in a variety of forms of continental slope, many with interruptions that differ from the classic profile.