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3 divisions:
1) Ocean
continen
t margin
2) MOR
3) Deep
Ocean
plains
Abyssal Plain
Occupies 40% of
the ocean floor
Tremendous
diversity in
terms of
landforms
It has deposits
from continents
(terrigenous),
marine life
(biogenous) and
salts and mineral
(inorganic)
Global
First found in
distribution Kara
of PMN
sea,
Arctic ocean
These
nodules are
found in the
all the oceans
economically
viable
-central
Indian Ocean
and Eastern
Pacific Ocean.
PMN
PMN are small
nodules of metals
like, Manganese,
Iron, Silicon, Al,
Nickel and Cobalt
etc.
some of the
minerals are rare on
land.
Countries are in
race to explore and
extract PMN
India
PMN
ISA
UNCLOS
Decides
UNCLOS territorial
waters,
contiguous
zone and EEZ
for coastal
countries
EEZ special
right of the
state to
explore
minerals or
produce
energy from
the area
Questio
Q. Critically evaluate
n
the various resources of
UPSC
the oceans which can
be harnessed to meet
Mains
the resource crisis in
2014
the world (10)
Types of Islands
4 types of Islands:
1) Volcanic (plate/ hot spot)
2) Continental
3) Coral islands
4) Sand bar islands
Types of Islands
Island
continental
volcanic
coral
Formation
Once part of
large
continent
O-O plate
collision, Hot
spot
Formed due
to coral reefs
Types of Islands
Volcanic islands
Continental Islands
Types of Islands
Coral Islands
Sand-bar islands
Example of Islands
Volca Contin Coral
nic
ental
Japan Shri
Lakshad
Lanka weep
Sandb
ar
Long
Island
(New
York)
Coral Reefs
Indicative of
health of
Marine
ecology
Primary
food-chain
Source of
great
biodiversity
Coral Reefs
Corals = tiny fleshy sea anemones polyps.
They extract Ca from the sea water for their
skeletons to protect their bodies.
One generation die on previous generation.
Corals live symbiotic relationship with
microscopic plant Zooxanthalae,
photosynthesis capabilities.
Zooxanthalae provide food to corals and
corals provide protection to zooxanthalae
Coral Bleaching
When corals
are in stress
they expel
zooxanthalae
thats why
coral seem
white => coral
bleaching.
Ultimately,
without food
coral die
Fringing reef
Coral reef
developed along
margin of an island
If Gap is created
between corals and
the surface of
island
Small water bodies
= lagoons
Barrier reef
Reef is not
continuous but
broken
Lagoon can
connect to open
ocean
Most extensive
If they are parallel
to coast -> barrier
reef
Atoll
Fringing Reef
Atolls
Marine pollution
Dangerous for
marine
biodiversity
Marine diversity
is the wealth of
the earth
Harmful to global
environment
Marine pollution
Issue
Oil spill
Run-off from
land
Atmospheric
input
Dumping of
effect
Marine life
devoid of
sunlight and
oxygen
Eutrophication Algal bloom
makes ocean
water acidic
Toxicity harms
Tar balls
Tar balls lumps
of petroleum
oil spillage from
tankers
The wax-like
lumps are caused
due to the
reaction of the oil
with sea water
Sticky and greasy
Horizontal
Waves
Creation of waves:
wind pushes the water body
gravity pulls the crests of the waves
downward, the falling water pushes
the former troughs upward.
Actual motion of water beneath the
wave is circular
Waves
Horizontal
Ocean Currents
Ocean currents are narrow and
shallow (up to 500 meter deep),
stream of water circulating along the
Ocean margins
Circumnavigate the earth
Ocean currents
Heat
distributio
n from
Poles to
Eq.
warm
water
from
equator
Coriolis effect
Due to
Earths
rotation W>E
Deflective
forcedeflect the
direction of
currents
Clockwise
N
Anticlockwise -S
oceano
UPSC
Prelims
2012
oceano
a)
b)
c)
d)
1 and 2
1,2,3
1 and 4
2,3,4
Ans. B)
Rotation of the earth -> coriolis
force
Air pressure and wind ->
planetary winds
Density of water -> salinity
UPSC
Prelims
2012
oceano
UPSC
Prelims
2002
oceano
UPSC
Prelims
2002
Europe
ports
North Atlantic
driftof
Norway
Narvik,
Hammerfest
operating in
winter- at
same
latitude
ports in
Russia
Canary current
cold current
Passes near
canary islands
desiccating
effect to
Sahara desert
Sargasso sea
Gyre of north
equatorial current,
gulf stream and
canary current
Water confined
calm and
motionless
HP zone high
salinity
Sargassum- sea
weed obstruct
navigation
Devoid of nutrients
poor marine life
Meeting of
Bahia Blanca
warm
Brazilian
and cold
Falkland
current
Important
fishing
ground
Benguela current
Cold current
Desiccating
effect to Namib
desert
oceano
UPSC
Prelims
1997
oceano
d) Continental shelf is
inundating
Ans. C)
1) New found land
2) Bahia Blanca
3) Japanese coast
oceano
UPSC
Prelims
2013
Horizontal
Ekman layer
The wind exerts
stress on the
ocean surface
proportional to
the square of the
wind speed and
in the direction
of the wind.
This motion
extends to a
depth of ~ 100
m
Ekman spiral
Wind force
balanced by
coriolis force and
friction
Water defect 45
deg under
coriolis force
Depth wind
force reducedeflect away
from wind
direction
Ekman Transport
Ekman spiral 90
deg = Ekman
transport
Deflect Right in
N. hemi
Deflect Left in
S. hemi
Due to coriolis
force
Up-welling
When Ekman
transport induce
divergence at
the coast
divergence
draws water
from below to
the surface
Peruvian coast
Ekman transport
Up-welling
cool and
nutrient rich
water come at
the surface
Phytoplankton
reproduce
rapidly in this
condition
zooplankton ->
nekton
Up-welling regions
Cold current
Humboldt
current =
Peruvian coast
Gulf of Guinea,
Iberian coast
Up-welling rich
nutrients =>
fishing
Down-welling
When Ekman
transport
induce
convergence
at the coast
convergence
forces surface
water
downward
Down-welling
Descending
water -warm
water saline
push down
at the
bottom
Horizontal
Ocean tide
Rise and fall of
sea water due
to gravitation
forces of sun
and moon is
called tides
Gravitational +
centrifugal
forces
Ocean tides
If moon
stationary
every place on
earth
experience 2 HT
and 2 LT in 24
hours
Ocean tides
But moon also
revolves around
earth in 27.5 days
So, same location
comes under moon
not exactly after 24
hours but 24.52
min
So, diurnal
frequency of HT
and LT is 12.26 min
Tidal range
Difference
between High
tide and Low
Tide
Depends upon:
1) Depth of
ocean water
2) Configuration
of coastline
3) Openness
and closeness
of the sea
Ebb Flood/Flow
The time between the high tide and
low tide, when the water level is
falling, is called the ebb.
The time between the low tide and
high tide, when the tide is rising, is
called the flow or flood
Syzygy positions
Quadrature position
- Spring , neap =
High tide
Spring highest
HT
Neap Lowest HT
- there is a 7
Days interval
between the
spring tides and
neap tides.
comparison
Neap tide
Spring tide
HT higher than
usual
LT lower than
usual
Syzygy position
Gravitational force
from both sun and
moon together
Questio
n
UPSC
Tidal currents
When the tide is
channelled
between islands or
into bays and
estuaries
Coastward = flood
current
Seaward = ebb
current
Reversing tidal
currents great
velocity
Tidal bores
when seawater
enters into mouths
of low lying rivers
during HT
Narrow opening
gentle gradient of
river basin
Obstructed by river
water so steep
wall of tidal bore
Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2004
Estuary
If a mouth of a
river is low-lying
and submerged
under sea-water
River deposit
create longnarrow delta =
estuary deltas
Ex. Deltas of Tapi,
Narmada
Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2004
Hooghly river
Hooghly
-Distributary of
Ganga
Kolkata on left
bank of Hooghly
Tidal bores in
Kolkata port
Importance of Tide
Tidal height important for Harbours with
shallow bars at the entrance, which
prevent ships and boats from entering into
the harbour.
Tides are also helpful in desilting the
sediments and in removing polluted water
from river estuaries.
Tidal energy to generate electrical power
Q. Consider the
following statements:
1) Tides are great help
in navigation and
fishing
2) High tide enable big
ships to enter or
leave the harbour
safely
3) Tide prevents
Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2000
a)
b)
c)
d)
1 and 4
2,3 and 4
1,2 and 3
1,2,3 and 4
Statement 1 is wrong.
Tide not helpful in navigation
Ans. B)
Questio
n
UPSC
Prelims
2000
Tidal ports
Diamond harbour
Kandla port
Ports
Non-tidal ports
Tidal ports
Feed by rivers
Relatively in-land
Ex. Kolkata port
port
12 major ports
of India
facts
Kandla
JNPT
Murmagao, KN
Kochi
Tuticorin port
Chennai
vishakhapatnam
Kolkata port
Riverine port
Haldia
Tidal energy
Power is harnessed
taking advantage of
difference of level
between HT and LT
A dam is
constructed to
clock receding
water during LT
Water is released
from dam turbine
- electricity
Horizontal