Give an account of ocean currents. [Imp.]
Ocean currents are streams of water flowing constantly on the ocean surface in definite directions. The ocean currents may be warm or cold. The warm ocean currents originate near the equator and move towards the poles. The cold current
carry water from polar or higher latitudes to tropical or lower latitudes. For example the Labrador Ocean current is cold current while the Gulf Stream is a warm current. The ocean current influence the temperature conditions of the area.
Warm currents bring about warm temperature over land surface. The areas where the warm and cold currents meet provide the best fishing grounds of the world. For example seas around Japan and the eastern coast of North America. The areas where a warm and cold current meet also experience foggy weather and therefore navigation becomes difficult.
Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What is precipitation?
(b) What is water cycle?
(c) What are the factors affecting the height of the waves?
(d) Which factors affect the movement of ocean water?
(e) What are tides and how are they caused?
(f) What are ocean currents?
For Fun
Be a Detective
1. The name of one river is hidden in each of the sentences below. Spot it. Example: Mandira, Vijayalakshmi and Surinder are my best friends