The configuration of the ocean floor provides essential information about the geological processes that have shaped the Earth's surface. Discuss the major features of the ocean floor and their significance in the study of oceanography.

Ocean floor mapping was the landmark study in understanding geological processes that shape Earth surface.

Features of ocean floor:

[Diagram with labels: Continental margin, Ocean ridge, Sea floor, Abyssal plain, and other features including continental slope, continental rise, trench, mid-ocean ridge]

Significance:

1. Helped to strengthen convection current theory

[Diagram showing mid-ocean ridge with arrows indicating convection patterns, rising magma, and spreading]

2. It found that sea floors are not over 200 mn years old as compared to upb 4bn years old lithosphere

3. It found variation in age and magnetic orientation of rocks across the mid oceanic ridge, providing evidence of changing earth magnetism

4. It provided basis for major landforms within sea which was earlier considered to be plain surface

5. Helped in further studies and finally evolution to plate tectonic theory

Thus configuration provided important information on geological processes that shape our earth.