Interrelation between the relief evolution on continents and ocean floor

Abstract

An interrelation is considered between an appearance of mid-oceanic ridges, global transgressions and climatic changes, as well as between global transgressions and formation of planation surfaces on continents at that time. Volume of material eroded from the planation surfaces is compared with sediments volume which was brought into oceans and with variations in mineral composition of the sediments produced by erosion of weathering crusts on the surfaces of different age. Connections are traced between swells on passive continental margins and thick sedimentary prisms near continental slopes and huge submarine fans resulting from erosion of mountain ranges of the Alpine and Andean types.