Geography chp15 - The Hydosphere
I. Tick the correct option:
1. The percentage of water on the Earth that is salt water:
a. 97 percent b. 65 per cent C. 90 per cent
2. The process by which water absorbed by plants enters the atmosphere through the plant
surface is called:
a. transpiration b. precipitation c. condensation
3. The movement of water in oceans is determined by:
a. difference in temperature b. amount of rainfall c. migration of
whales
4. The surface layer of the ocean water mixes with its deeper layers with the help of:
a. flowing rivers b. wind, tides and waves c. saline water
5. The lower part of a wave is called:
a. crest b. trough c. wavelength
6. The ocean currents that flow from the Equatorial region towards the Polar region:
a. warm ocean currents b. cold ocean currents C. both of them
7. The Great East Japan Earthquake struck Japan on:
a. 10 March 2011 b. 11 March 2011 C. 12 March 2011
8. Broad, slow moving masses of water are known as:
a. drifts b. tides C.waves
9. Which of the following ocean currents is a warm current?
a. Brazil Current b. West Wind Drift C. Benguela Current
10. The tiny marine organisms which are an excellent source of food for fishes are:
a. saline b. plankton c. both of them
II. Answer the following in one sentence.
Q1. What is the hydrological cycle?
Ans1. The hydrosphere is sustained through the hydrological cycle or water cycle that
involves endless series of changes, which water undergoes in the sea, air and
land. This water cycle consists of four parts evaporation, condensation, precipitation and
collection.
Q2. Which sources of water are considered as ‘freshwater’?
Ans2. Water which contains very little dissolved salts is referred to as fresh water. Only 1
per cent of water available on the Earth is suitable for human consumption in the form of
fresh water. Rivers are one of the most important and dominant sources of fresh water.
Q3. What is salinity? How is it expressed?
Ans3. The degree of concentration of salt in sea water is known as its salinity and it varies
from one place to another. Salinity is expressed in terms of parts per thousand. Usually, the
average salinity of sea water is 35 parts per thousand which means
that 1000 grams of sea water contains 35 grams of salt.
Q4. Define tides. Name the two main types of tides.
Ans 4. Sea water rises up the shore at a certain time of the day and then ebbs or recedes at
regular intervals. This rhythmic rise and fall in the level of sea water is known as
tides. Example Spring Tides and Neap Tides
Q5. What are the main factors responsible for ocean currents?
Ans5. These movements are caused by several factors
such as:
difference in temperature and density of ocean water
variation in salinity
the effect of prevailing winds
III. Answer the following questions in brief.
1. Write a note on temperature of ocean water.
Ans1. The temperature of ocean water, which is heated by the Sun, varies from one place to
another.
1. Wind, tides and waves mix the surface layer of the ocean water with its deeper
layers.
2. The temperature of the surface water varies with latitude, therefore, the tropical
latitudes, which receive vertical rays of the Sun, have the warmest oceanic waters. The
oceanic temperatures decrease steadily from the Equator to the Poles.
3. The normal decrease in temperature from the Equator to the Poles is upset by ocean
currents, which transfer vast quantities of water from one latitude to another.
4. The temperature of ocean water also decreases with depth. The Sun’s rays warm the
surface waters more than the deeper waters.
2. Define waves. What are the various features of a wave?
Ans2. A wave is a regular rise and fall of ocean and seawater due to the action of the wind
on the surface of water.
2. The shape and size of waves depend on the speed of the wind and other weather
conditions.
3. The upper part of a wave is called a crest while the lower part is called a trough.
4. The vertical distance between a crest and a trough is called wave height.
5. The horizontal distance between two successive crests is called wavelength.
6. The size of a wave depends upon the speed of the wind,
i.e., stormy winds may give rise to huge waves which may lead to destruction of life and
property.
3. How does hydrosphere play a vital role in sustaining life in the biosphere?
Ans 3.
1. The hydrosphere therefore, plays a vital role in sustaining life in the biosphere.
2. Water from lakes and rivers is extremely important for domestic purposes as well as for
irrigation.
3. It provides an important link in transport and communication between the continental
masses.
4. The various water bodies are a vital source of diverse marinelife and marine products.
5. Salt and other minerals are obtained from ocean waters.
6. Oceans and other water bodies also influence the weather and climate.
7. Tidal energy can be generated from ocean water while hydroelectricity is generated from
rivers.
8. Water is a precious resource and we must use it judiciously and take adequate steps to
prevent its pollution. Water conservation will go a long way in ensuring its availability
forever
IV. Answer the following questions in detail.
1. Give an account of the devastation and destruction brought about by the Great
East Japan Earthquake.
Ans1.
1. The Tohuku Earthquake (11 March 2011), officially named the Great East Japan
Earthquake, had a magnitude of 9.0 on the Richter scale.
2. The epicentre of the earthquake was approximately 72 km east of the Oshika
Peninsula of Tohuku, Japan
3. The tsunami waves, up to 38 m high, struck Japan and in some areas, ocean water
travelled up to10 km in land. The tsunami caused massive destruction along the
Pacific coastline of Japan’s northern islands. It left around 14,755 dead, 5,279
injured and 10,706 people missing across the country
4. Explosions and gas leaks occurred at three nuclear reactors at the Fukushima
Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, releasing radioactive material directly in the
atmosphere and water sources.
5. The overall economic losses exceeded $300 billion, making it one of the most
expensive natural disasters in history
2. How do spring tides and neap tides occur?
Ans2.
During the full Moon and the new Moon, the Earth, the Moon and the Sun are in the
same straight line. Their combined gravitational pull causes the greatest difference
between the low and high tides, when the water seems to spring forth. Hence, they
are known as spring tides.
Spring tides occur every fortnight.
In the first and last quarters of the lunar cycle the ocean water is pulled in
diagonally opposite directions by the gravitational force of the Sun and the Moon.
Therefore, the difference between the high and low tide is least. Hence, these tides
that occur between every spring tide are known as neap tides.
3. In what ways are tides useful to us?
Ans3.
1. Tides clear mud and silt deposits from the mouth of rivers and so keep them open
for ships.
2. Tides are of immense help in shipping and navigation. Ships leave the harbour when
the tide goes out and enter when the tides come in. Spring tides are especially favourable
for large ships.
3. Fishermen greatly benefit due to tides as fish come near the coast during high tide
enabling a bountiful catch.
4. Tides are a very important source of renewable energy in the form of fast movement
of water during inflow and outflow.
5. To tap the power of tides, tidal power stations have been set up in Canada, France,
China, Russia, South Korea and Japan.
6. The Gulf of Kachchh in Gujarat has been identified for the development of a tidal
power station
4. Mention four effects of ocean currents.
Ans4.
1. Winds passing over warm and cold currents modify the temperatures by making the
lands comparatively warmer or colder.
2. Winds that pass over warm currents bring rainfall to coastal areas while cold
currents decrease the moisture bearing capacity of winds.
3. The mixing of warm and cold currents causes heavy fog, thus hindering navigation.
4. The best fishing grounds of the world with an abundance of plankton are also
located where the warm and cold currents meet, e.g. Grand Banks, off the coast of
Newfoundland, where the warm Gulf Stream meets the cold Labrador Current.
5. It is preferred to sail ships along with currents as they can move faster and hence,
save on time and fuel.
5. How is water polluted? Why should we conserve water?
Ans5. Water pollution is all about degrading the quality of water and making it not good for
use. increase in population, increase in agricultural requirements, increase in industries
which leads to the increase in wastes are all making water polluted.
We should conserve water because if there is no water there is no life. We require water for
our daily purposes, agriculture etc and water is a natural resource. Pure water is required for
most of the purposes and thus due to all these reasons we must conserve water.
