3. Explain the effect of -
(a) Warm ocean currents on climate
(b) Cold ocean currents on the moven
of icebergs
(c) The shape of the coast line on ocean
currents
(d) Meeting of warm and cold Ocean
currents
(e) The transportational capacity of ocean
currents
(f) Deep ocean currents
Answers
Explanation:
Answer a: Ocean currents especially affect the climate of the regions having proximity to the sea. In cold regions where warm ocean currents flow, climate becomes warmer. In some regions, the amount of precipitation increases. For example, the warm ocean currents flowing near Western Europe, Southern Alaska, and Japanese coast, reduce the intensity of the winters there and make them warmer. As a result, these ports do not freeze in winters.
Answer b: At places where the cold and the warm currents meet, thick fog is formed. Such fogs create problems for transportation. The warm Gulf Stream and the cold Labrador currents meet near Newfoundland island. This leads to dense fog. Owing to the cold currents, icebergs are carried away from the polar areas. If such icebergs come along the marine routes, they are hazardous to the ships
Answer c: Longshore currents are generated when a train of waves reach the coastline and release bursts of energy. The speed at which waves approach the shore depends on sea floor and shoreline features and the depth of the water. As a result, the wave tends to bend and conform to the general shape of the coastline.
Answer d: Areas where warm and cold currents meet tend to have regular foggy conditions, as the overlying warm and cold air come in contact with each other. They also tend to have high biological productivity, because plankton growth is encouraged by the mixing of warm and cold currents.
Answer e: The ocean currents are very important, with respect to the water transport. If the transportation is done according to the flow of ocean currents, the speed of the ships increase and the fuel is saved too.
Answer f: Water currents beyond the depth of 500 metres are known as deep water/ocean currents. These currents are formed due to the differences in temperature and density of the water in different parts of the ocean. This is known as thermohaline circulation. These currents flow till the sea-bed of the ocean. They flow like rivers continuously below the surface of the sea.