What are called ocean trenches?

Ocean trenches are long, narrow depressions on the seafloor. These chasms are the deepest parts of the ocean—and some of the deepest natural spots on Earth.

What are ocean trenches and how are they formed?

Formation of an Ocean Trench Deep ocean trenches are formed during a process known as subduction. In subduction, one tectonic plate (a large portion of the Earth’s crust) slides under another. The plate that is slipping under the other plate bends and forms an ocean trench.

Where are ocean trenches?

Trenches are found on the floor of the sea; however, their common name is deep ocean trenches because they are more often found in the deepest areas of the ocean. Trenches are formed in subduction zones where tectonic plates collide. There are many known trenches that scientists continue to study.

What is an example of an ocean trench?

Ocean trenches exist in all the world’s oceans. They include the Philippine Trench, Tonga Trench, the South Sandwich Trench, the Eurasian Basin and Malloy Deep, the Diamantina Trench, the Puerto Rican Trench, and the Mariana.

What a trench is?

Definition of trench (Entry 1 of 2) 1a : a long cut in the ground : ditch especially : one used for military defense often with the excavated dirt thrown up in front.

What are trenches used for?

Long, narrow trenches dug into the ground at the front, usually by the infantry soldiers who would occupy them for weeks at a time, were designed to protect World War I troops from machine-gun fire and artillery attack from the air.

Why are trenches full of water?

Much of the land where the trenches were dug was either clay or sand. The water could not pass through the clay and because the sand was on top, the trenches became waterlogged when it rained. The trenches were hard to dig and kept on collapsing in the waterlogged sand.

What was the purpose of the trenches?

Trenches were common throughout the Western Front. Long, narrow trenches dug into the ground at the front, usually by the infantry soldiers who would occupy them for weeks at a time, were designed to protect World War I troops from machine-gun fire and artillery attack from the air.