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With reference to the characteristics of the ocean currents, consider the following statements:
The speed of the ocean currents decreases with depth.
The surface currents constitute the majority of all the water in the ocean.
Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?
- a)1 only
- b)2 only
- c)Both 1 and 2
- d)Neither 1 nor 2
Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
With reference to the characteristics of the ocean currents, consider...
Characteristics of Ocean Currents:
1. Speed of Ocean Currents:
Ocean currents have different speeds depending on various factors such as temperature, wind, and the Earth's rotation. However, in general, ocean currents tend to move slower at greater depths. This is because the frictional drag from the ocean floor slows down the movement of water at the bottom.
2. Surface Currents:
Surface currents are driven by wind and make up about 10% of all the water in the ocean. These currents occur in the top 400 meters of the ocean and are responsible for redistributing heat and nutrients around the globe.
Answer Explanation:
The correct answer is option 'B' - 2 only. This is because the second statement is incorrect. Surface currents constitute only 10% of all the water in the ocean, not the majority. The majority of the water in the ocean is in the deep ocean currents, which are driven by differences in water density caused by differences in temperature and salinity.
In summary, ocean currents have different speeds depending on various factors, and they tend to move slower at greater depths. Surface currents make up only 10% of all the water in the ocean, while the majority of the water is in the deep ocean currents.
1. Speed of Ocean Currents:
Ocean currents have different speeds depending on various factors such as temperature, wind, and the Earth's rotation. However, in general, ocean currents tend to move slower at greater depths. This is because the frictional drag from the ocean floor slows down the movement of water at the bottom.
2. Surface Currents:
Surface currents are driven by wind and make up about 10% of all the water in the ocean. These currents occur in the top 400 meters of the ocean and are responsible for redistributing heat and nutrients around the globe.
Answer Explanation:
The correct answer is option 'B' - 2 only. This is because the second statement is incorrect. Surface currents constitute only 10% of all the water in the ocean, not the majority. The majority of the water in the ocean is in the deep ocean currents, which are driven by differences in water density caused by differences in temperature and salinity.
In summary, ocean currents have different speeds depending on various factors, and they tend to move slower at greater depths. Surface currents make up only 10% of all the water in the ocean, while the majority of the water is in the deep ocean currents.
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With reference to the characteristics of the ocean currents, consider...
Ocean currents are like river flow in oceans. They represent a regular volume of water in a definite path and direction.
Ocean currents are influenced by two types of forces namely:
- primary forces that initiate the movement of water;
- secondary forces that influence the currents to flow.
- The primary forces that influence the currents are (i) heating by solar energy; (ii) wind; (iii) gravity; (iv) Coriolis force. Heating by solar energy causes the water to expand. That is why near the equator the ocean water is about 8 cm higher in level than in the middle latitudes. This causes a very slight gradient and water tends to flow down the slope.
- Wind blowing on the surface of the ocean pushes the water to move. Friction between the wind and the water surface affects the movement of the water body in its course. Gravity tends to pull the water down the pile and create gradient variation. The Coriolis force intervenes and causes the water to move to the right in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. These large accumulations of water and the flow around them are called Gyres. These produce large circular currents in all the ocean basins.
Characteristics of Ocean Currents:
- Currents are referred to by their “drift”. Usually, the currents are strongest near the surface and may attain speeds over five knots. At depths, currents are generally slow with speeds less than 0.5 knots. Hence statement 1 is correct.
- The speed of the current is referred to as the 'drift' of the current. Drift is measured in terms of knots. The strength of a current refers to the speed of the current. A fast current is considered strong. A current is usually strongest at the surface and decreases in strength (speed) with depth. Most currents have speeds less than or equal to 5 knots.
Types of Ocean Currents:
- The ocean currents may be classified based on their depth as surface currents and deep water currents.
- Surface currents constitute about 10 per cent of all the water in the ocean, these waters are the upper 400 m of the ocean;
- Deep water currents make up the other 90 per cent of the ocean water. These waters move around the ocean basins due to variations in density and gravity. Deep waters sink into the deep ocean basins at high latitudes, where the temperatures are cold enough to cause the density to increase. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
- Ocean currents can also be classified based on temperature: as cold currents and warm currents:
- Cold currents bring cold water into warm water areas. These currents are usually found on the west coast of the continents in the low and middle latitudes (true in both hemispheres) and on the east coast in the higher latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere;
- Warm currents bring warm water into cold water areas and are usually observed on the east coast of continents in the low and middle latitudes (true in both hemispheres). In the northern hemisphere, they are found on the west coasts of continents in high latitudes.
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With reference to the characteristics of the ocean currents, consider the following statements: The speed of the ocean currents decreases with depth. The surface currents constitute the majority of all the water in the ocean. Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?
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With reference to the characteristics of the ocean currents, consider the following statements: The speed of the ocean currents decreases with depth. The surface currents constitute the majority of all the water in the ocean. Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? for UPSC 2025 is part of UPSC preparation. The Question and answers have been prepared according to the UPSC exam syllabus. Information about With reference to the characteristics of the ocean currents, consider the following statements: The speed of the ocean currents decreases with depth. The surface currents constitute the majority of all the water in the ocean. Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer? covers all topics & solutions for UPSC 2025 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for With reference to the characteristics of the ocean currents, consider the following statements: The speed of the ocean currents decreases with depth. The surface currents constitute the majority of all the water in the ocean. Which of the statements given above is/are not correct?a)1 onlyb)2 onlyc)Both 1 and 2d)Neither 1 nor 2Correct answer is option 'B'. Can you explain this answer?.
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