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abyssal

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
a·bys·sal  (-bsl)
adj.
1. Abysmal; unfathomable.
2. Of or relating to the great depths of the oceans.
3. Of or relating to the region of the ocean bottom between the bathyal and hadal zones, from depths of approximately 3,000 to 6,000 meters (10,000 to 20,000 feet).

abyssal [əˈbɪsəl]
adj
1. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) of or belonging to the ocean depths, esp below 2000 metres (6500 feet) abyssal zone
2. (Earth Sciences / Geological Science) Geology another word for plutonic

abyssal  (-bsl)
1. Relating to the greatest depths of the oceans and to the organisms that live there. The abyssal zone encompasses all depths below 4,000 m (13,120 ft).
2. Relating to the region of the ocean bottom between the bathyal and hadal zones, from depths of approximately 2,000 to 6,000 m (6,560 to 19,680 ft). The abyssal zone includes nearly two-thirds of the Earth's surface.
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Adj.1.abyssal - relating to ocean depths from 2000 to 5000 metersabyssal - relating to ocean depths from 2000 to 5000 meters
2.abyssal - resembling an abyss in depth; so deep as to be unmeasurable; "the abyssal depths of the ocean"
deep - having great spatial extension or penetration downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or laterally or outward from a center; sometimes used in combination; "a deep well"; "a deep dive"; "deep water"; "a deep casserole"; "a deep gash"; "deep massage"; "deep pressure receptors in muscles"; "deep shelves"; "a deep closet"; "surrounded by a deep yard"; "hit the ball to deep center field"; "in deep space"; "waist-deep"


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The vast muddy expanses of the abyssal plains occupy about 60 percent of the Earth's surface and are important in global carbon cycling.
Much of the new understanding has come from two key sites - Station M in the NE Pacific and the Porcupine Abyssal Plain (PAP) in the NE Atlantic, with water depths of around 4100 and 4850 metres, respectively.
 
 
 
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