Social Science - Water in Oceans

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UNIT-V CLASS VII GEOGRAPHY

WATER IN THE OCEANS STUDENTS’ MANUAL
Overview – Water in the Oceans
Birth of the Oceans
We live on a planet that is almost all oceans - a water planet that is unique among the cosmos.
The oceans have transformed the Earth into the liveable planet it is today. However, in the
earth’s earliest history when the earth was formed 4,600 million years ago there were no
oceans – it was a red-hot planet of molten magma flashing through space.
Where did all this water come from and how has the ocean shaped this planet over the last 4
billion years? Most scientists say that rain fell from the clouds in the dips on the earth's
surface to make oceans about 200 million years ago. No living creature could be here today if
this dramatic event had never taken place.
Source: rafael.glendale.edu.
Fig:- Distribution of Water on land
Do You Know?
The oceans changed our atmosphere oxygen - giving life to planet earth. Peter Ward, a
palaeontologist with the University of Washington mentioned that in Western Australia to
discover stromatolites – an amazing bacterial formation helped fill the ocean and later the
atmosphere with oxygen.
Oceans cover about 71% of the Earth's surface. The oceans contain roughly 97% of the
Earth's water supply. No other planet in our Solar System has liquid water (although recent
finds on Mars indicate that Mars may have had some liquid water in the recent past). Life on
Earth originated in the seas, and the oceans continue to be home to a varied web of life.
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THE OCEANS
The Earth's oceans are all connected to one another. Until the year 2000, there were four
recognized oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic. In the spring of 2000, the
International Hydrographic Organization delimited a new ocean, the Southern Ocean located
around the continent of Antarctica.
CASE STUDY Birth of a New Ocean?

The Evolution of Ethiopia's Afar Depression
In North Eastern Ethiopia one of the Earth’s Driest Deserts is

making way for a new ocean.
Africa is splitting apart at the seams—literally. From the
southern tip of the Red Sea southward through Eritrea, Ethiopia,
Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique, the continent is coming un-
stitched along a zone called the East African Rift. Like a
shirtsleeve tearing under a bulging bicep, the earth’s crust rips
apart as molten rock from deep down pushes up on the solid Fig: African Continent and
Surrounding Oceans
surface and stretches it thin—sometimes to it’s breaking point.
Each new slit widens as lava fills the gap from below.
This spectacular geologic unravelling, already under way for millions of years, will be complete when
saltwater from the Red Sea floods the massive gash. Ten million years from now the entire rift may be
submerged. This region of the African continent is known to Geologists as the Afar Depression.
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The Pacific Ocean
It is the body of water between Southern Ocean, Asia, Australia and the Western
Hemisphere. Its total area is 155.557 million sq km and this makes it about 15 times the
size of the US; covers about 28% of the global surface; larger than the total land area of the
world. The Pacific is also the deepest ocean with an average depth of 4028 metres. It has
many deep valleys also known as ocean trenches. The Mariana Trench off the coast of
Philippines is the deepest place on the earth. It is 11022 metres deep.
Fig:- Location of Mariana Trench in

Fig:- A Comparative Figure of the Highest
the Pacific Ocean
and Deepest Point on the Earth
DO YOU KNOW?
While thousands of climbers have successfully scaled Mount Everest, the
highest point on Earth, only two people have descended to the planet’s
deepest point, the Pacific Ocean’s Mariana Trench.
The Ring of Fire in the Pacific is known for volcanic eruptions and earthquakes. The
Hawaiian Islands located in the oceans are the end of the chain of under-water volcanoes.
It includes some important water bodies such as Bali Sea, Bering Sea, Bering Strait, Coral
Sea, East China Sea, Gulf of Alaska, Sea of Japan, Sea of Okhotsk, South China Sea,
Tasman Sea, and many others.
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Resources: It has many natural resources such as oil and gas fields, sand and gravel
aggregates, placer deposits, a vast variety of fish. There are some major environmental
concerns that have to be taken care of such as the concern of the endangered species such
as the sea lion, otters, turtles and whales and oil pollution in the Philippines Sea and South
China Sea.
Do You Know
The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean. It covers roughly one-third the surface area of the earth,
which is more area than all of Earth's land masses combined.
Magellan named this ocean Pacific, meaning “calm or peaceful”. However most of the islands in
this ocean are of volcanic origin and it is beset by typhoons and hurricanes, to say little about the
tsunamis in the Pacific water of Japan.
The Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest oceans of the world and covers approximately
20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area. The Atlantic Ocean
occupies an S-shaped basin extending between Europe and Africa to the east, and
the Americas to the west. As a part of the interconnected global ocean, it is connected in
the north to the Arctic Ocean, to the Pacific Ocean in the southwest, the Indian Ocean in
the southeast, and the Southern Ocean in the south. The Atlantic is the saltiest major ocean;
Its surface water salinity in the open ocean ranges from 33 to 37 parts per thousand
Resources: The Atlantic Ocean is the busiest ocean. It provides major transatlantic
transportation and communication routes. Many ships cross the Atlantic, carrying cargo
between the Americas, Africa, and European countries. The general trade pattern
consisting of the movement of bulk cargoes—such as crude oil, coal, grain, iron ore, and
bauxite from South American countries to the industrial centres in the United States,
Canada, and Europe. It has some of the busiest ports in the world like London, New York
and Hamburg.
The Atlantic has the world's richest fishing resources. The Atlantic’s
major finished grounds that include Newfoundland's Grand Banks, the Nova Scotia,
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the Irish Sea, the Dogger Bank of the North Sea, and the Falkland Banks, represent more
than half the world’s total catch. Eel, lobster, and whales are found in great quantities in
this region.
For years now many Atlantic species have been intensively fished, resulting in the near
collapse of some vital species. Many Atlantic countries have been attempting to protect—
with limited success—their living resources by managing the level of fishing activity.
Methods used have included area closures, permits, catch limits and quotas, and time and
season restriction. Various international treaties are being formed in an attempt to find
ways to reduce pollution caused by environmental threats such as oil spills, marine
remains, and the adding of toxic wastes at sea.
Fig:- Oil Spill in the Atlantic Ocean
CASE STUDY
- FISHING in the GRAND Banks of

NEWFOUNDLAND –
An Environmental Risk?
Fishing has been a way life in Newfoundland and Labrador for
five centuries. When John Cabot reached the shores in 1497 he
discovered that the waters round the New Land were teaming with Fishing in New Found land
fish. He reported that they were so plentiful that his men could
lower a basket into the water and pull it up filled with fish.
The ancestors who later lived in the outports made their living by catching and salting this fish. When larger
boats were built fisherpersons engaged in the deep sea fishery on the Grand Banks.
"The big fish, the bill fish, the groupers, the big things will be gone. It is happening now. If things go
unchecked, we'll have a sea full of little horrible things that nobody wants to eat. We might end up with a
marine junkyard dominated by plankton.”
Report by Dr. Daniel Pauly, Professor and Director of the University of British Columbia's Fisheries
Centre.
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The Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third Largest ocean in the world. Indian Ocean separates India from
Africa. It's a body of water between Africa, Southern Ocean, Asia, and Australia. The deepest
point in the Indian Ocean is the Java Trench that is 7450 metres deep. There are also many
coral reefs including Maldives and Seychelles Islands dotted around this ocean.
Economic importance of the ocean can be accessed from the fact that One-fifth of the world’s
energy supplies now travel across the Indian Ocean, largely from west (Persian Gulf) to east
(China, India, Japan). In the reverse direction, super ships carry manufactured goods from
Asia to the Middle East and Europe. It has three important access waterways- the Suez Canal
(Egypt), Strait of Hormuz (Iran-Oman), and Strait of Malacca (Indonesia-Malaysia).
Resources: The resources of economic importance include fisheries, deep sea minerals and
tourism that depend on tropical islands and coral reefs. It is important that balance is
maintained between resource availability and exploitation in order to preserve the marine
environment.
Do You Know?
The Red Sea which is 320 km wide is separated from the Indian Ocean by the
submerged rock - Bob el Mardeb.
Fact File
Coral reefs are generally found in clear,
tropical oceans. Coral reefs form in waters
from the surface to about 150 feet (45
meters) deep because they need sunlight to
survive. The largest reef in the world, the
Fig:- Coral Reefs in the
Great Barrier Reef in Australia is longer
than 1900 km. Indian Ocean
The Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and the shallowest ocean located in the North Pole region. A
major part of it is covered with ice throughout the year. Arctic Ocean has countries near it
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which are Canada, United States of America, and Iceland. The important seas and bays
around this ocean are Hudson Bay, Kara Sea, Greenland Sea, Beauport Sea, Baffin Bay and
White Sea.
Fact File
2% of all the water in the Arctic Ocean is
frozen in huge ice-bergs. During the brief
summers, the thick ice breaks –up into icebergs
at the fringes. This makes the salinity of the

Fig:- Ice Berg
ocean very low.
DO YOU KNOW?
The Chukchi Sea in the Arctic Ocean is a key point as it is the access point between Russia
and North America.
The Greenland glaciers are a significant part of this ocean and contribute to its water rise
significantly
As the Arctic Ocean is located near the poles it is very cold throughout the year and the
temperature in this area is very low. There is no sunlight all through the winter and the
temperatures drop to -76oC. It is only during the few months of summer that land or water
emerges out of the cover of snow.
The Arctic Ocean is facing the impact of global warming and the threat of nuclear waste
which various countries eject in the sea.
The Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean is the 'newest' ocean. The boundaries of this ocean were set in 2000 by
the International Hydrographic Organization. It is the world’s fourth largest ocean.
It stretches all the way a round Antarctica, and has an area of 35,000,000 sq km. It is the
only ocean that stretches all around the world. In winter over half the Southern Ocean is
covered with ice and icebergs that break off the Antarctic ice sheet.
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Case Study - The challenge round

Antarctica is the world’s last great
wilderness and provides a pristine
area for research into the Antarctic
and the global environment.
Find out:
i) Its renewable resources
ii) Its non renewable resources
iii) Other attractions
This region has some major environmental concerns such as:
1. Increased ultra violet radiation and consequent ozone layer depletion.
2. over exploitation of placer deposits of minerals.
3. Over fishing consequent reduction in marine productivity (phytoplankton) by as much

as 15%
Fig:- Oceans of the World
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Think About It……

It is our
home
too!
Case Study - Hole in the Ozone layer over

ANTARCTICA
(September 2006) Dark blue and purple colours
correspond to the thinnest ozone, while light blue,
green and yellow pixels indicate progressively
thicker ozone.
From September 21 to 30, 2006, the average area of the ozone hole was the largest ever observed, at
10.6 million square miles. A little over a week later, instruments recorded the lowest concentrations of
ozone ever observed over Antarctica, making the ozone hole the deepest it had ever been.
Most of the ozone on earth isn't on earth at all, but in the layer of the earth's atmosphere called the
Stratosphere. Ozone in the Stratosphere is nicely out of the way and has the wonderful benefit to life on
earth that it specifically absorbs the harmful ultra-violet light from the sun.
If there is a hole in the ozone layer then this means that more harmful ultra-violet rays get through than
are good for us or many other life forms, plant or animal.
Find out and discuss.
What according to you can be the effects of exposure to ultra-violet rays?
(For Teacher’s Reference Only)
• Eye damage such as cataracts

• Immune system damage
• Reduction in phytoplankton in the oceans that forms the basis of all marine food chains
including those in Antarctica.
• Damage to the DNA in various life-forms So far this has been as observed in Antarctic ice-fish
that lack pigments to shield them from the ultra-violet light (they've never needed them before)
• Skin cancer
http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica fact file/
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Why is ocean water salty?
As water flows in rivers, it picks up small amounts of mineral salts from the rocks and soil of
the river beds. This very-slightly salty water flows into the oceans and seas. The water in the
oceans only leaves by evaporating (and the freezing of polar ice), but the salt remains
dissolved in the ocean - it does not evaporate. So the remaining water gets saltier and saltier
as time passes.
Distribution of temperature and salinity in the oceans
Ocean water undergoes many changes from the surface to the ocean floors. Surface water is
warm because it is penetrated by sunlight, whereas the bottom is cold and dark. Most of
the light and heat of the sun that hits the ocean is absorbed in the first few tens of meters of
water. Waves and turbulence mix this heat downward quickly.
The temperature of the surface waters varies mainly with latitude. The polar seas can be as
cold as -2 degrees Celsius (28.4 degrees Fahrenheit) while the Persian Gulf can be as warm
as 36 degrees Celsius (96.8 degrees Fahrenheit). The average temperature of the ocean
surface waters is about 17 degrees Celsius (62.6 degrees Fahrenheit).
Seawater contains large amounts of dissolved salts and mineral matter which varies
considerably. This is expressed as degree of saltiness as parts per thousand. The average
salinity of the oceans is 35.2 parts per thousand. Salinity in seas and oceans is affected by
factors such as temperature, rate of evaporation, amount of fresh water added by icebergs,
streams and precipitation and degree of water mixing by currents.
Do You Know?
When does the sea water freeze? Fresh water freezes at 0oC, but the sea water freezes at
about -1.90C. It is the salts in the water which makes the sea water freeze at a lower
temperature.
Circulation of ocean waters
Waves are the upward and downward movement of ocean waters on account of the blowing
of wind over the surface of ocean waters. They can be anything from gentle ripple to huge
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storms of water crashing against the coasts. Wind waves range in size from small ripples to
huge waves over 30 meters high.
Waves have crests (the peak of the wave) and troughs (the lowest point on the wave). The
wavelength, or horizontal size of the wave, is determined by the horizontal distance between
two crests or two troughs. The vertical size of the wave is determined by the vertical distance
between the two. Waves travel in groups called wave trains.
Do it yourself
With the help of a simple experiment understand the wave action. Put a layer of gravel on the
bottom of a transparent tank. Half fill the tank with water. Mark the water line with a tape. With
the help of a stick make gentle, steady waves at one end of tank.
Observation: You will see that the distance

from the top (crest) of the wave to the water
line is same as the distance from the trough to
the water line.
Features of a Wave
The size of a wave depends on the distance the wind blows (over open water) which is known
as the "fetch", the length of time the wind blows, and the speed of the wind. The greater the
three, the larger is the wave.
Fig:- Waves in Action
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Tsunami: A Type of Wave
A Tsunami is a giant wave (or series of waves) created by an undersea earthquake, volcanic
eruption or landslide sometimes reaching heights of over 100 feet (30.5 meters), land. They
are also known as harbour waves. In Japanese: tsu means, port + nami, wave since they cause
heavy destruction when they crash against the coast they are also commonly known as 'killer
waves'
How are Tsunamis caused?
These waves are typically caused by large, undersea earthquakes. Most Tsunamis, about 80
percent, happen within the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire,” because this region is a
geologically active area where volcanoes and earthquakes very are common.
Fig:- A Tsunami Wave
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Case Study: Signs that show that Tsunami is approaching
There are some signs that could warn you if a tsunami is going to happen. Take note of the
following:
1. If an earthquake occurs near a body of water.

2. If water along a shoreline recedes dramatically.
3. Some kinds of animals hear the noise of tsunami and move towards the opposite
direction towards inland.
4. When you hear a loud roar similar to that of a train or an airplane.
To reduce the effect of a tsunami, a tsunami wall of 4.5 meters in height can be constructed
in populated coastal areas. Floodgates and channels can be built to redirect the water from
the tsunami, and the shore can be covered with trees. All these slow down and moderate a
tsunami. However, they cannot totally prevent the destruction and loss of life.
Before a tsunami. Watch out for warning signs. Remember to run uphill when you are
near the shore and you tell an earthquake, when you observe animals heading uphill or
away from the shore, or when you observe the water at the beach recede into the sea.
During a Tsunami. If you run uphill on the first warning signs, you will probably have
enough time to reach safe high ground. If not, the only thing you can try is to climb up a
tree, although there is no assurance that the water will not reach you. The best thing is to
run at the first warning signs or when an evacuation announcement has been made.
After a Tsunami. You will have to wait for some time to make sure there are no other
waves coming after the first wave before you clear up the debris. A tsunami is a series of
waves. The first wave may not be the most dangerous. The waves may come five minutes
apart to an hour apart. The cycle may be marked by repeated retreating and advancing of
the ocean or sea. Do not go to the shore once the first wave has gone. Expect more to
come.
http://expertscolumn.com
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Influence of waves
1. The waves moderate the Earth's temperature by absorbing incoming solar radiation
(stored as heat energy).
2. Ocean waves help in transporting of larvae over large distances than would happen
otherwise. Without waves, there would not be as many species living in the sea".
3. Ocean waves help in shaping the coastline by taking away materials from one area and
depositing on the other.
4. Waves erode rocks continuously crashing on them creating beaches.
TIDES
The phenomenon of the alternate rise and fall in the level of sea water is called Tides. These
are caused mainly by the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun on the Earth.
Tides are the two types:
High Tide and Low Tide: High tide is rise in the ocean water level whereas fall in the water
level is termed as low tide. The gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun with respect to the
Earth is responsible for the variation in the height of tides.
Do it Yourself
Spot the difference between the two pictures in relation to the water level?
A B
Which of the two pictures depict a high tide and a low tide?
How did you reach the conclusion? Discuss
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Spring and Neap tides

• On full Moon and new Moon the Sun the Moon and the Earth are almost in a straight line.
The sun and the Moon exert a combined gravitation pull. Thus high tides are the highest
and the lows tides are the lowest. This phenomenon is known as Spring Tide.
• On half Moon day the Sun and the Moon make a right angle to the earth. The gravitational
pull of the Sun works against the Moon’s pull resulting into less extreme tides known as
“Neap tide”.
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IMPORTANCE of tides
1. Cleaning- The tides help remove pollutants and circulate nutrients ocean plants and
animals need to survive.
2. Navigation-They make some rivers navigable for ocean going vessels. During high tide
the depth of the water at the mouth of the rivers increases which helps the ships to reach
the points located on these rivers e.g. The London port on River Thames and Kolkata
port on River Hugli.
3. De-siltation- they help in de-siltation by removing the silt collected at the mouth of the
rivers.
4. Fishing- Crabs, mussels, snails, seaweed and other edible sea life inhabit the tidal zone.
Small tide pools may also contain small fish and sea vegetables. The sea life found in
these regions is often harvested for food. Without the regular washing of the tides, these
complex and abundant creatures would die and food resources would diminish.
5. Weather-Tides and tidal currents affect the weather by stirring the ocean waters. The
tides and tidal currents mix water from very cold regions like the Arctic that can't
absorb lots of sunlight with warmer water that does absorb sunlight.
6. Making of common salt- low lying saline sea water brought on shore by tides can be
used.
7. Tidal Energy-Two high tides and two low tides occur at regular 24 hour intervals. This
source of renewable energy to can be utilised to produce hydro electricity by
communities living along the coast.
Fig:- Tidal Energy plant.
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CASE STUDY - Tidal Energy
What is tidal energy?

The difference between high tide and low tide can be many metres, and the energy
of the tidal movement can be used to generate electricity.
How is tidal energy collected?
If, at high tide, water can be trapped behind a barrage and then let out as the tide
ebbs, this water can be passed through a turbine that can generate electricity.
Where can tidal energy be used?
Barrages are built in river estuaries that have large tidal ranges, such as the River
Severn in the UK.
Advantages
The rise and fall of the tide is constant, and does not depend on the weather. The
production of electricity in this way is relatively cheap.
Disadvantages
1.Present designs do not produce a lot of electricity, and barrages across river
estuaries can change the flow of water and, consequently, the habitat for birds and
other wildlife.
2.Obtaining electricity from tidal power stations is an expensive undertaking. The

8000 MW proposed Severn Estuary barrage system in the UK is estimated to cost
US$15 billion and the proposed San Bernadino Strait, 2,200 MW tidal fence in the
Philippines will cost US$3 billion (SMEC 2003).
OCEAN CURRENTS
Large amounts of water in the ocean move in a definite path on the surface of ocean waters.
There are many such streams flowing all over the world oceans. These are called ocean
currents. In short, they constitute a large mass of water flowing along a fixed path on the
surface of the ocean. A current may be swift with a speed of up to 10 km hour, or it may be
broad and slow moving at an average speed of 2 km per hour, in which case it is called ocean
drift.
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The factors that cause Ocean Currents
(a) The prevailing winds- The pushing action of winds on the surface of the ocean waters
makes the waters flow as they do. These winds are deflected from their original path due
to the rotation of the Earth. The currents in the northern hemisphere move in a clockwise
direction, while in the southern hemisphere they move in an anti-clockwise direction.
(b) Landmasses are also responsible for changing the course of a current. The currents
follow the path along the coast.
(c) Temperature and salinity vary from region to region and is responsible for the
movement of ocean waters. The warm water of the equatorial region gets more heated
than in the Polar Regions. Warm water is light. Water in the Polar Regions is cold and
heavy, so it sinks and flows towards the equator. The light upper layers of water are
forced to move towards the Poles where they get cooled. Therefore currents from Equator
move towards the Poles while the heavy and cold waters of the Poles sink and move
towards Equator. In this way the circulation of ocean water takes place.
Effects of Ocean Currents
Currents influence the climate of the coastal regions. Ocean currents have the following
effects:
1. Winds blowing over a warm current become warm .They pick up moisture and reach the
land causes heavy rainfall. The western coast of Europe is an example of such a region.
Such winds bring down the temperature of the land like the Kuroshio (warm) current,
which flows along the east coast of Japan.
2. Winds blowing over cold and dry regions help to bring down the temperatures of a place,
which lie in otherwise warmer latitudes. The California (cold) current, which flows along
the western coast of USA, makes the region much cooler than other places in the west
coast on the same latitude.
3. Cold winds are devoid of any moisture and bring little or no rainfall over the coastal
regions where they blow. Therefore some of the major deserts of the world are found
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along the coast where cold currents flow. The Atacama desert in South America is
influenced by the cold Peru Current and the Patagonia desert along the coast of Africa by
the Benguela Current.
4. Places where cold and warm currents meet are ideal for the growth of Plankton a type of
small organism which is an important food for fish. These regions have developed into
major fishing grounds of the world. Newfoundland on the eastern coast of North America
is the meeting point of the Gulf Stream and the Labrador Current. It is one of the major
fishing centres of the world.
5. On the other hand these places may be dangerous for ships as the meeting of cold and
warm currents gives rise to thick fog, which reduces visibility and is responsible for many
accidents.
6. Ships sailing with a current gain speed, which helps to save fuel and time. Ships moving
against a current lose speed. Warm currents keep the Arctic regions free from icebergs,
which can be dangerous for ships.
Fig:- Major Ocean Currents of the World
Oceans under threat
The world of oceans contains many resources. People use oceans for trade, travel, tourism,
recreation, food and obtaining minerals. All these activities have harmful effect on the oceans
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and the oceanic life. As oceans link all the countries of the world and as the sea water
circulates around the globe, what we do in one part of the ocean will have a global effect.
Common problems related to oceans:
Over fishing: With the growing world population, the demand for fish as a food is also
increasing. But the stocks are declining.
Threat to marine life: Some species of marine creatures have become rare because too many
have been killed for food or sport. There are only about thousand blue whales left in the
world. Often coral and shell fish are destroyed by heavy boat anchors and by diverse hunting
for souvenirs.
Pollution: One of the biggest and most common problems to the oceans is there
contamination from industries. Heavy industries in the coastal cities and ports discharge
chemical and sewage into rivers which wash the pollutants into the sea. North and Black Seas
in Europe have been polluted so much that the marine life is poisoned and may never
recovered.
All countries of the world need to work together to share ocean resources manage them in a
sustainable manner for now and future.
How to care for oceans: Watch the video:

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/environment/habitats-environment/habitats-
oceans-env/care-for-the-oceans/
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GLOSSARY
Amplitude-The maximum vertical displacement of the sea surface from still water level (half
the wave height)
Contiguous zone -The contiguous zone is a band of water extending from the outer edge of
the territorial sea to up to 24 nautical miles from the baseline, within which a state can exert
limited control for the purpose of preventing or punishing
Crest-The very top of the wave
Deep water waves-waves that are in water that is deeper than half their wave length
Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)-It represents a sea zone administrated to a state who
therefore has special and exclusive rights to exploit the natural resources of that area. The
state holding an EEZ zone has therefore all control over the economic resources of that area.
An EEZ can be set beyond 200 miles from its coast.
Mining-Mining is the extraction of these valuable natural resources from Earth but also from
seas and oceans.
Natural resource- A material that occurs in a natural state and has economic values. Along
with that, a natural resource can also be the marine life in an ocean, which is often significant.
Non-renewable resource- A non-renewable resource such as oil or gas that once consumed
cannot be replaced. Most energy resources are currently non-renewable.
Oil-Oil is considered to be one of the most precious natural resources. It is non-refundable,

and researches have shown that oil fields in the ocean can be found especially in the Arctic or
the Southern Ocean.
Period-The time it takes for one complete wave length to pass a stationary point
Placer deposits -An accumulation of valuable minerals such as gold, platinum or tin.
Sand and Gravel-The ocean basins constitute the ultimate depositional site of sediments
eroded from the land, and beaches represent the largest residual deposits of sand.
Shallow water waves-waves that are in water that is shallower than 1/20 their wave length
(the important difference on these last two is whether or not the sea floor influences the
motion of the wave)
Territorial waters-The territorial waters of a state are coastal waters extending to 12 nautical
miles from the baseline of a coastal state. The territorial sea is seen as the sovereign territory
of the state, although foreign ships are allowed passage through it.
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Trough-The hollow between two crests
Wave height-The vertical distance between the top of one wave crest and the bottom of the
next trough
Wave speed-The velocity with which waves travel
Wave steepness-The ratio of height to length
Wave length-The horizontal distance between any one point on one wave and the
corresponding point on the next
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WORKSHEETS
WORKSHEET-I
Name of the Student:
Class: Section:
Study the given map and answer the following questions:
1. Name the five Oceans on the Earth according to their comparative size?
_________________________,
_________________________, _________________________,
_________________________, and _________________________.
2. Name the Seven Continents these Oceans surround: _________________________,
_________________________, _________________________,
_________________________, _________________________,
_________________________, and _________________________,
3. Colour the Oceans and seas blue.
4. Colour the Continents green.
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WORKSHEET-II
Class: Section:
1. Use an Atlas and label the oceans and seas:
2. Study the given source and answer the following question:
Sunlight is made up of all the colours of the rainbow: red, orange, yellow, green, blue,
and violet. Some of the sunlight is reflected off the surface of the water, reflecting the colour
of the sky. Some of the sunlight penetrates the water and is scattered by ripples and particles
in the water (this tinges the appearance of the ocean with the colour of the particles). In deep
water, much of the sunlight is scattered by the oxygen in the water, and this scatters more of
the blue light.
Water absorbs more of the red light in sunlight; the water also enhances the scattering of
blue light. Sir Chandrasekhar Venkata Raman (an Indian physicist) won the Nobel Prize in
1930 for his work on light.
Q. Why are the oceans blue?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
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WORKSHEET-III

Class: Section:
1. Refer to the given table and answer the following questions:
Ocean Area (square miles) Average Depth (ft) Deepest Depth (ft)
Pacific Ocean 64,186,000 15,215 Mariana Trench,
36,200 ft deep
Atlantic Ocean 33,420,000 12,881 Puerto Rico Trench,
28,231 ft deep
Indian Ocean 28,350,000 13,002 Java Trench, 25,344 ft
deep
Southern Ocean 7,848,300 13,100 - 16,400 The southern end of
the South Sandwich
Trench, 23,736 ft
deep
Arctic Ocean 5,106,000 3,953 Eurasia Basin, 17,881
ft deep
http://www.mapsofworld.com/
1. Which is the largest ocean in terms of area?
____________________________________________________________________
2. What is the average depth of Indian Ocean?
_____________________________________________________________________
3. Name the deepest point under the oceans?
__________________________________________________________________________
4. Mention one interesting feature about each ocean that makes it unique in nature.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
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WORKSHEET-IV

Class: Section:
1. Use the words given in the box and complete the given information about Tsunami.
Ocean life Tsunami

rock Japanese tides
model detected waves
land higher slide
technology impact tidal
A Tsunami is a series of huge ________________ caused by the undersea displacement of a

huge volume of water caused by an earthquake, volcano, rock ______________, or other
catastrophic event. Most Tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes, but not all
underwater earthquakes cause Tsunamis - an earthquake has to be over magnitude 7.5 for it to
cause a Tsunami. About 90 percent of all Tsunamis occur in the Pacific ____________. A
Tsunami can travel at 700 kph (500 mph) - as fast as a jet flies. It can take only a few hours
for a Tsunami to travel across an entire ocean.
When a Tsunami hits a coastline, it can cause great destruction and loss of
_______________. Many Tsunamis can be _____________________________ before they
hit ____________, and the loss of life could be minimized with the use of modern
________________________.
The word Tsunami comes from the _________________word meaning "harbor wave."
Tsunamis are sometimes incorrectly called "_______________waves". Tsunamis are not
caused by the tides (__________are caused by the gravitational force of the moon on the sea).
If you are on the beach and you see the water recede quickly and unexpectedly from the
beach, run toward ________________ ground or inland. There may be a
________________coming. Also, if you are on the coast and there is an earthquake, there
may be a Tsunami, so run toward higher ground or inland. Many beaches have Tsunami
warning sirens -- do not ignore them.
27
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WORKSHEET-V
Class: Section:
1. WHAT CAUSES THE TIDES?

Answer the question with the help of given clues
Tides are periodic _________and ______of large bodies
of water. Tides are caused by the gravitational
interaction between the __________and the________
The gravitational attraction of the moon
causes the oceans to _________out in the
_____________of the moon. Another
bulge occurs on the________ side, since
the Earth is also being pulled toward the moon (and away from the water
on the far side). Since the earth is rotating while this is happening,
________ tides occur each day. Isaac Newton was the first person to explain tides
scientifically.
.
[Rise, earth, bulge, falls ,moon, direction, two, opposite]
The Sun also pulls the earth’s oceans, but its pull is weaker because it is much further
away.
Spring Tides
Spring tides are especially strong tides. They occur
when the______, the_______ and the moon are in a
line. The gravitational forces of the _______and the
Sun both contribute to the tides. Spring tides occur
during the full Moon and the _______Moon.
[Moon, earth, new, sun]
NeapTides
Neap tides are especially weak tides. They occur when the
______________forces of the Moon and the Sun are
_________to one another (with respect to the Earth). Neap
tides occur during quarter ____________
[Moons, perpendicular, gravitational]
28
CBSE-i
WORKSHEET-VI
Class: Section:
Refer to the given maps of major currents and answer the following questions;
• Ask the class to relate any features regarding the oceans that they are aware of;
any oceans they have crossed during travelling from on part of the world to
another; any incidents related to a particulars ocean they have read about.
Nearly 4,200 m of Mount Mauna Kea that is above the sea level forms the
tropical island of Hawaii.
• With the help of inputs from students teachers can project special features of
each of the oceans.
(In this map, warm currents are shown in red and cold currents are shown in blue.
windows2universe.org)
1. The ocean currents on your map generally travel in either a clockwise or counter
clockwise direction. Look at the ocean currents and compare the general direction
followed by currents in the Northern Hemisphere with the direction of those in the
Southern Hemisphere.
a. In the Northern Hemisphere the general direction is _____________________.
b. In the Southern Hemisphere the general direction is ___________________
29
CBSE-i
2. Cold water currents tend to have a cooling affect on the continental coastlines that they
border, while warm water currents tend to have a warming effect. Look at the pattern
of currents in the Northern and Southern hemispheres and describe the effect the
currents have on the temperature of the coastal areas they border.
a. The East coasts generally have ___________ (warm or cold) water currents.
b. The West coasts generally have ___________ (warm or cold) water currents.
c. The East coast climates will generally be _____________ (warmer or cooler) than
it’s supposed to be.
d. The West coast climates will generally be _____________ (warmer or cooler)

than it’s supposed to be.
3. Look at the pattern of cold and warm water currents. What seems to determine whether
a current carries warm or cold water? Explain why this is so.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
30
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II On the given world map mark the following currents:
1 Californian Current- Cold
2 Canary Current- Cold
3 Gulf Stream- Warm
4 Kuroshio Current- Warm
5 East Australian Current -Warm
6 Benguela Current- Cold
7 Brazil Current -Warm
8 Peru Current- Cold
31
CBSE-i
WORKSHEET-VII
Class: Section:
Ocean resources under threat
The planet’s one ocean – for the various oceans form a single eco system – covers 361m
square kilometres, or 71% of the Earth’s surface. Exploitation of renewable and non-
renewable resources has steadily increased. Some renewable resources are the focus of keen
rivalry. No sooner do we realize their potential than they are threatened by over-exploitation.
"Only about 4% of the world's oceans remain undamaged by human activity, according to the
first detailed global map of human impacts on the seas...
A study in Science journal says climate change, fishing, pollution and other human factors
have exacted a heavy toll on almost half of the marine waters.
Only remote icy areas near the poles are relatively pristine, but they face threats as ice sheets
melt, it warns."
www.news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sci/tech
World Bank issues SOS for oceans, backs alliance - February 24, 2012
"The World Bank announced on Friday a global alliance to better manage and protect the
world's oceans, which are under threat from over-fishing, pollution and climate change... "We
need a new SOS: Save Our Seas," (World Bank President) Zoellick said in announcing the
alliance... Working with governments, the scientific community, civil society organizations,
the private sector, we aim to leverage as much as $1.2 billion (762.0 million pounds) to support
healthy and sustainable oceans (af.reuters.com)
Oil in the ocean.
Fig:- Oil Spill in Ocean
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Based on the above given reports create a Fact File illustrating major problems being faced
by the world of oceans
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Related pictures
33
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Resources:
http://geography.about.com/od/physicalgeography/a/waves.htm
http://kingfish.coastal.edu/
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/oceanic-waves.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/o/ocean_current.htm
http://www.preservearticles.com
http://www.quora.com/Justine-Kimball
http://myfunphysicsworld.blogspot.in/
http://www.scientificamerican.com/
http://www.tidespoint.com
http://www.eoearth.org
http://claremontgeography12.blogspot.in/2011/06/this-oil-spill-in-atlantic-ocean.html
http://topnews.in/law/files/coralreef.jpg
http://theworldsoceans.com/oceans.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PuiaOnonk5k/Te9_j-HYHuI/AAAAAAAACJE/2gBUjT-
zOAc/s1600/Ocean-Day-News-1102.jpg
www.environmentalgraffiti.com
http://www.rumela.com/diary/diary_Tsunami.htm
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3107/2691293190_5105251651.jpg
Tide+phase+of+moon+NEAP+TIDE.bmp
changinautical.blogspot.com
Tide+phase+of+moon+NEAP+TIDE.bmp
changinautical.blogspot.com
http://aie.org.au
oceancurrents.gif
Google Images
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CBSE-i

UNIT-V CLASS VII GEOGRAPHY

Overview – Water in the Oceans

Birth of the Oceans

Fig:- Distribution of Water on land

CASE STUDY Birth of a New Ocean?

In North Eastern Ethiopia one of the Earth’s Driest Deserts is

The Pacific Ocean

Fig:- Location of Mariana Trench in

The Atlantic Ocean

Fig:- Oil Spill in the Atlantic Ocean

- FISHING in the GRAND Banks of

The Indian Ocean

The Arctic Ocean

frozen in huge ice-bergs. During the brief

summers, the thick ice breaks –up into icebergs

at the fringes. This makes the salinity of the

The Southern Ocean

Case Study - The challenge round

i) Its renewable resources

ii) Its non renewable resources

iii) Other attractions

This region has some major environmental concerns such as:

1. Increased ultra violet radiation and consequent ozone layer depletion.

2. over exploitation of placer deposits of minerals.

3. Over fishing consequent reduction in marine productivity (phytoplankton) by as much

Fig:- Oceans of the World

Think About It……

Case Study - Hole in the Ozone layer over

• Eye damage such as cataracts

http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica fact file/

Why is ocean water salty?

Distribution of temperature and salinity in the oceans

Circulation of ocean waters

Observation: You will see that the distance

Fig:- Waves in Action

Tsunami: A Type of Wave

How are Tsunamis caused?

Fig:- A Tsunami Wave

Case Study: Signs that show that Tsunami is approaching

1. If an earthquake occurs near a body of water.

Spring and Neap tides

Fig:- Tidal Energy plant.

CASE STUDY - Tidal Energy

What is tidal energy?

How is tidal energy collected?

Where can tidal energy be used?

2.Obtaining electricity from tidal power stations is an expensive undertaking. The

The factors that cause Ocean Currents

Effects of Ocean Currents

Fig:- Major Ocean Currents of the World

Oceans under threat

Common problems related to oceans:

How to care for oceans: Watch the video:

Crest-The very top of the wave

Oil-Oil is considered to be one of the most precious natural resources. It is non-refundable,

Trough-The hollow between two crests

_, and _.

_, and _,