the currents of the Pacific Ocean.

(Q.) Give an account of the currents of the Pacific Ocean.

(5 Marks)

(Ans) 

The currents in the Pacific Ocean can be divided into two categories:

(1) Northern Pacific Current

(2) Southern Pacific Current.

We may define all the currents of the Pacific Ocean in general which are as follows:
1. North Equatorial currents: It is a warm current. It flows north of the equator from east to west.
2. South Equatorial currents: It is also a warm current. It flows south of equator from east to west.
3. Kuroshio Current: It is a warm current. It flows along the cost of Japan.
4. Oyashio Current: It is a cold current which flows out from the Arctic pole and merges into the Kuroshio Current of Japan.


5. North Pacific drift: It is an extension of the Kuroshio Current of Japan. The North Pacific drift is a warm current.
6. California Current: It is a cold current. It flows along the coast of California and Mexico. It is an extension of the North Pacific Drift.
7. Kuril Current: It is a cold current. From Bering Strait, it flows south along the Coast of Kuril Island.
8. Humboldt Current: It is also known as the Peru Current as it flows along the coast of Peru. Humboldt discovered it, thus it is known as the Humboldt Current. It is a cold current. It is the part of the Atlantic Drift.
9. New South Wales current: It is also known as the East Australian current. It is a warm current. It flows south along the east coast of Australia.

IMPORTANT EXERCISE QUESTIONS SOLVED

IMPORTANT EXERCISE QUESTIONS SOLVED

Q.2: Answer the following questions briefly.

   (i) Name the group of islands lying in the Arabian Sea.

  (ii) Name the countries which are larger than India.

 (iii) Which island group of India lies to its south-east?   

 (iv) Which island countries are our southern neighbours?

Solution:

   (i) Lakshadweep

  (ii) Russia, Canada, China, USA, Brazil and Australia.

 (iii) Andaman and Nicobar group of islands.

 (iv) Maldives, Sri Lanka.

Q.3: The sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Gujarat in the west but the watches show the same time. How does this happen?

Solution: From the longitudinal extent of India it is observed that the longitudinal expanse is about 30^O from west to east. This means that there would be a time-lag of two hours approximately from Gujarat to Arunachal Pradesh. To avoid such differences in local time, Indian standard time has been fixed to give the whole country a uniform time. The local time of the Standard Meridian of 82^O30’E is observed as the Standard Time by the whole country. Because of this reason we find that the sun rises two hours earlier in Arunachal Pradesh as compared to Gujarat in the west but the watches show the same time.  

    

Q.4: The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance. Why?

Solution: The central location of India at the head of the Indian Ocean is considered of great significance because -

a) It has given India a strategic advantage due to the Trans Indian ocean routes which connect the countries of Europe in the West and the countries of East Asia.

b) This helps India to establish close contact with West Asia, Africa and Europe from the Western coast and with the Southeast and East Asia from the Eastern coast.

c) The vast coastline and the natural harbours have benefitted India in carrying out trade and commerce with its neighbouring and distant countries since ancient times.

d) It has given India a distinct climate than the rest of the Asian Continent.

e) No other country has such a long coastline on the Indian Ocean as India. It is India’s eminent position in the Indian Ocean which has given the name of an Ocean after it.   

MAP SKILLS

Q.1: Identify the following with the help of map reading.

  (i) The island groups of India lying in the Arabian Sea.

  (ii) The countries constituting Indian Subcontinent.

 (iii) The states through which the Tropic of Cancer passes.

 (vii) The place situated on the three seas.

(viii) The strait separating Sri Lanka from India.

Solution:

  (i) Lakshadweep

 (ii) Countries which make the Indian subcontinent are Pakistan in the north-west, India at the core, Nepal in the north, Bhutan in the north-east and Bangladesh in the east.        

(iii) Tropic of Cancer passes through the states of Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Tripura and Mizoram.

(vii) Kanyakumari

(viii) The Palk Strait.