ST.

PATRICK’S ACADEMY
UT 2 GEOGRAPHY ASSIGNMENT
CLASS IX
CH- 10 OCEAN CURRENTS AND TIDES
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Instructions:

• Do this work in your notebook.

• Draw the diagrams.

Q. Answer the following questions:

1. What are currents? What causes these currents?

Ans. Ocean current: It is the general movement of a mass of ocean water in a definite direction,
which is more or less similar to water streams flowing on the land surface of the Earth.

Causes of ocean currents:

• Planetary winds
• Variation in sea water temperature
• Variation in sea water salinity
• Rotation of the earth
• Configuration of coastline.
2. What is Coriolis Force?

Ans. The Earth rotates on its axis from west to east. This rotation is the cause of deflective force known
as Coriolis force, which deflects the general direction of the winds and that of the ocean currents.

3. What happens when warm and cold currents meet? How is it important for fisheries?

Ans. The mixing of the cold and warm currents provide ideal temperature conditions for the life of fish.

• The chief food of fish (plankton) is found in abundance in cold water. For example, Newfoundland
where Gulf Stream and Labrador meet.

4. What leads to the variation in the salinity of the sea water?

Ans. The amount of salt contained in sea water varies from one part of the ocean to another.

• The high salinity water tends to subside and move below water of low salinity.
• There is a marked variation in the salinity of the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
• Due to this variation, the ocean currents flow from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean
Sea.
5. Name a few important currents of the Pacific Ocean.

Ans. A few important currents of the Pacific Ocean are:

• Kuroshio Current (warm)

• Kurile or Oyashio Current (Cold)
• East Australian Current (warm)
• West Wind Drift

6. What is Gulf Stream famous for?

Ans. Gulf Stream converges with Labrador cold current near Newfoundland.

• This provides an ideal condition for the life of fish. The Grand Bank near Newfoundland has
become an ideal fishing ground of the world. The chief food, plankton is found in abundance in
cold water.
7. Name a few minor currents of the world.

Ans. Few important ocean currents of the world are:

• Equatorial Current
• Gulf Stream Current
• Labrador Current
•
8. What effect do the ocean currents have on the climate of a place?

Ans. Effects of ocean currents on the climate of a place:

• They are an important source of temperature distribution.

• They mitigate the air temperatures and help in the regulation of air routes.
• They affect the route of cyclonic streams. Low conditions created by warm currents over the
large masses of pressure surface water attract cyclones.
• Warm and cold currents affect the rainfall as winds passing over the warm current picks up the,
moisture give extra rains to British Columbia, etc.
• Winds passing over cold currents do not rain at all, e.g. Kalahari Desert.

9. What are the effects of tides?

Ans. Effects of tides are:

• They help to remove the debris from the seashore.

• Strong tidal currents help ships to enter in shallow harbours, e.g., London harbour.
• Tidal energy can be harnessed to generate electricity. . They help in producing salt in the coastal
areas.
10. What is the time difference between two tides? What is it called?

Ans. The time difference between each tide is approximately 12 hours and 26 minutes. This is called
Tidal range or amplitude.

11. Explain by reference to actual examples the effects of ocean currents on climate, economy, and
fishing.

Ans. The effects of ocean currents on: Climate: Same as of 8th answer

Economy and fishing:

• Save Money for Cargo Transport

• Create Fishing Ground
• Generating Electricity
• Increase Storms
• Allow Crops to Grow
• Increase Plankton Growth

12. How are tides caused?

Ans. Causes of Tides:

Gravitational Force:

• They are caused by the influence of Moon on the Earth. The gravitational pull of Moon is more on
Earth because of its proximity to the Earth.

• The Sun being too far away exerts some pull on the Earth due to its great mass, but it is much less as
compared to Moon.

Influence of the Moon:

• It results in the formation of high tide and low tide.

The rotation of the Earth:

Results in every meridian coming into the position of two high tides and two low tides nearly every 24
hours.

13. Name the two movements in the ocean.

Ans. The two movements in the ocean are:

• Horizontal, i.e., ocean currents

• Vertical, i.e., the rising of bottom water and the sinking of surface water.
14. Define the term ‘evaporation”.

Ans. Evaporation is the process of a substance in a liquid state changing pressure. To a gaseous state
due to an increase in temperature and pressure. It is a fundamental part of the water cycle and is
constantly occurring throughout nature.

15. Name any two warm currents of the Atlantic Ocean.

Ans. The two warm currents of the Atlantic Ocean are:

• Brazil Current
• Gulf Stream Current.

Give reasons:

1. The famous fishing grounds of the world are located where warm and cold currents meet.

Ans. The famous fishing grounds of the worlds are located where warm and cold currents meet:

• They provide ideal temperature conditions for the life of fish.

• The chief food of fish (plankton) is found in abundance in cold water, e.g., Newfoundland.

2. Winds are the main influence on the circulation of ocean currents.

Ans. Winds are the main influence on the circulation of ocean currents:

The prevailing planetary winds like Trade winds, Westerlies, etc. play vital role in the origin and
development of ocean currents. Because of the Coriolis Effect, the Northern Hemisphere currents flow
to the right of the wind direction while the Southern Hemisphere currents flow to the left. Most of the
ocean currents of the winds follow the direction of prevailing permanent or planetary winds.

3. The tidal range differs from sea to sea.

Ans. The tidal range differs from sea to sea:

• In the open oceans such as Atlantic, tides flow and ebb regularly twice a day.
• In the enclosed sea of sheltered seas such as Mediterranean or Baltic, the range may be very small.

4. The tides help in navigation.

Ans. The tides help in Navigation:

• They help in removing the debris from the seashore.

• Strong tidal currents help ships to enter shallow harbours.
• In certain harbours tidal basins are constructed to store tidal water.
Q. Write brief notes on the following:

1. Spring Tide ( draw the diagram 10.11)

Ans. Spring Tide: When the Sun, Earth and Moon are in a straight line as they are at Full Moon and New
Moon, the gravitational force is at its greatest because of combined force of Sun and Moon as they are
pulling together. At this time the high tide and low tide is very low. These types of tides are called Spring
Tides.

2. Neap Tide ( draw the diagram 10.12)

Ans. Neap Tide: When the Sun, Earth and Moon are not in a straight line, they are not exerting a
combined force, so the gravitational pull is much less. At half moon, that is, when the Sun, Moon are
pulling at right angles, the force exerted is at its least and the difference between high tide and low tide
is not large. These tides are called Neap

3. Gulf Stream Tides.

Ans. Gulf Stream: It is a warm Atlantic Ocean current. It is the largest of the Western boundary currents
of the North Atlantic Ocean. It originates in the Gulf of Mexico around 20° N and moves in a north-
easterly direction along the eastern coast of North America.

4. Labrador Current

Ans. Labrador Current:

• It is important cold-water current in North Atlantic Ocean.

• It has its origin in the Arctic Ocean which flows from North to South between the Greenland and
the Baffin Islands. Passing southwards, it merges with the Gulf Stream near Newfoundland.
• It brings down huge icebergs from the Arctic Ocean to the eastern coast of Canada which are
hazardous to life.
• It brings down huge icebergs from the Arctic Ocean to the eastern coast of Canada which are
hazardous to navigation.