Why does erosion have less effect on the deep seafloor than on continents?

Erosion plays a relatively minor role in shaping the deep seafloor compared to the continents because the environmental conditions in the deep ocean lack the necessary energy to drive significant erosive processes.

Specifically, deep ocean currents are generally slow, typically flowing at speeds of less than 50 cm (20 inches) per second, and therefore lack the power required to erode the seafloor effectively. In contrast, continental landscapes are subject to much more vigorous erosive forces, such as wind, ice, and river systems, which actively transport and wear down rock and soil particles. While the deep seafloor is not immune to geological change—it is continually renewed through plate tectonics and seafloor spreading—the physical sculpting of its topography by erosion remains minimal due to the low-energy nature of the deep-sea environment.12