What are flat bottom plains?

There is a type of plain that differs from the general form known to us, which is the plains that we know as large, flat areas above the surface of the earth with small plants.

We find before us another group of plains located under the surface of the water in the depths of the oceans, and they are called flat bottom plains.

Many scientific studies have been conducted on how flat bottom plains are formed, the nature of the climatic conditions within them, and the types of organisms that live within them.

In this article, we will discuss the definition of flat bottom plains, their locations, the organisms that live in them, and the climatic conditions within them.

Definition of flat bottom plains

Aquifers are flat, wide areas of land on the ocean floor covered with sediments. They lie at great depths of more than 6,500 feet below sea level.

Beneath this flat, basaltic crust are dark-colored basaltic rocks, rich in iron and magnesium silicates. These rocks are covered by layers of sediment formed by currents from earthquake deposits and landslides that fall beneath the sea surface.

The sediments found on ocean plains consist of the remains of animals and plants that fall from the ocean surface and settle on the bottom.

How flat bottom plains are formed

Flat bottom plains are formed as a result of the movement of tectonic plates, which allows magma to rise from the sea floor to the top. As it rises, its temperature cools, it solidifies, and the surrounding crust forms the plain. This process continues to be repeated over and over until the flat bottom plain expands and is formed.

Sediments brought by ocean currents then accumulate on the ocean floor, covering this surrounding crust to form flat plains. These plains are about 1 kilometer thick.

These sediments consist of mud, gravel, sand, remains of dead organisms, and organic matter. Sediments may also contain chemicals and debris.

Types of plains

The types of plains are as follows:

• erosive plains:They are plains that took years to form due to rain and wind.
• alluvial plainsAlluvial plains are formed by the accumulation and erosion of rain.
• structural plainsIt was formed by tectonic plates inside the Earth.
• bottom plains: Settled in the depths of the oceans.

Locations of flat bottom plains

Flat bottom plains are found on more than 40% of the ocean floor and are most abundant in valleys, mountain ranges, hills, and trenches.

Flat plains also exist in the form of small, flat floors, and they also exist in the form of a group of long, narrow trenches. Bottom plains are characterized by the presence of many valuable minerals within them that are extracted and utilized.

Examples of flat bottom plains

The Colombian Plain is one of the most famous examples of a flat aquifer, reaching a depth of 14,260 feet, and is located in the southern and central Caribbean Sea.

Manganese nodules within flat bottom plains. Manganese nodules are widespread in flat plains and are found at depths of up to 6,500 m.

Manganese nodules are formed from the accumulation of hydroxides of manganese, nickel, copper, cobalt, a group of precious metals, molybdenum, and iron layers that precipitate and collect around an object.

This body may be a rock or the remains of something organic, and manganese nodules vary in size from very small millimeters to tens of centimeters.

These manganese nodules are found in the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the central part of the Indian Ocean Basin, and this area contains 211,000 million tons of nodules.

Organisms that live in flat bottom plains

There are 2,000 species of bacteria living in the flat bottom plains, as well as 250 protozoa. These organisms feed on sediments and are difficult to observe.

Also found on the bottom of the benthic plains are worms, mollusks, and echinoderms, such as sea cucumbers and sea urchins. These organisms that live on the benthic plains have a special fluid inside them that enables them to adapt to their environment.

These creatures are very small in size, and have large stomachs and wide mouths. The snake fish is an example of creatures that live in these plains, and the fish has a large stomach for storing food.

The nature of life in flat bottom plains

The climatic conditions for life on the flat, arid plains are not favorable. They are characterized by complete darkness, cold, and high pressure, all of which contribute to making life in this area extremely difficult.

Under these conditions, it is impossible for plants to exist in these climatic conditions, and as a result, the number of animals that depend on these plants for their food is low. Therefore, this region is characterized by a very small number of living organisms.

At the end of the article, we have presented the definition of flat bottom plains, how these plains are formed, the locations of the spread of bottom plains, the nature of the climatic conditions within this bottom, and the types of living organisms within it.