Consider the following statements regarding the Sargasso Sea: It is lo...
The Sargasso Sea near Bermuda is warmer, saltier and more acidic than it has ever been since measurements began in 1954 — and the impact of such significant changes could be far reaching, researchers have warned.
- The Sargasso Sea, located entirely within the Atlantic Ocean, is the only sea without a land boundary.
- The Sargasso Sea is named for Sargassum, a holopelagic, golden drift algae that can aggregate to form extensive floating mats on the surface of the ocean.
- This extraordinary open-ocean ecosystem is bounded by currents circulating around the North Atlantic sub-tropical gyre and is unique for supporting the center of distribution and abundance for a community of continuously pelagic drift algae.
- It provides habitats, spawning areas, migration pathways and feeding grounds to a diverse assortment of flora and fauna, including endemic, endangered, and commercially important species.
- The Gulf Stream establishes the Sargasso Sea's western boundary, while the Sea is further defined to the north by the North Atlantic Current, to the east by the Canary Current, and to the south by the North Atlantic Equatorial Current.
Hence both statements are correct.
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Consider the following statements regarding the Sargasso Sea: It is lo...
Answer:
The correct answer is option C, i.e., both statements 1 and 2 are correct. Let's discuss each statement in detail:
Statement 1: The Sargasso Sea is located entirely within the Atlantic Ocean without a land boundary.
The Sargasso Sea is a region in the North Atlantic Ocean, bounded by four currents forming an ocean gyre. It is located east of the Gulf Stream and west of the Canary Current. The sea is positioned entirely within the Atlantic Ocean and does not have any land boundary. It is named after the Sargassum seaweed found in abundance in the area. This seaweed creates a unique ecosystem and provides habitat for various marine species.
Statement 2: The Canary current flows in the eastward direction of this sea.
The Canary Current is a wind-driven surface current that flows southward from the Canary Islands to the northwest coast of Africa. It is part of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). The Canary Current is driven by the trade winds and forms the eastern boundary of the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. It flows in a generally southward direction along the western coast of Africa. Therefore, the Canary Current indeed flows in the eastward direction of the Sargasso Sea.
In conclusion, both statements 1 and 2 are correct. The Sargasso Sea is located entirely within the Atlantic Ocean without a land boundary, and the Canary current flows in the eastward direction of this sea.