(Geography Model Answer)

UPSC Mains - English Medium

Indian Geography

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Theme : Oceans

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By Sudarshan Gurjar

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(Geography Model Answer) UPSC Mains - English Medium / Indian Geography

Theme : Oceans
Q3. Mention the significance of straits and isthmus in
international trade. 2022
(Answer in 250 words) 15

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Straits are narrow passageways of water, usually between continents or islands,

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or between two larger bodies of water.
Isthmus is the land-equivalent of a strait. i.e., a narrow strip of land connecting
two larger land masses or separating two water bodies.

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Significance in International Trade :

1. Passage and Communication - Isthmuses have been strategic locations for

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centuries. They are natural sites for ports and canals linking terrestrial and
aquatic trade routes. Straits act like international waterways, decreasing
time and increasing navigational efficiency.

2. Economically Viable - Taking an example of Malacca Strait, and how it is

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the shortest sea route between Indian and Pacific ocean. Thus providing a
gateway to food and energy security.

3. Fuelling the World - Many of the world’s major oil and gas pipelines pass
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through straits and isthmus. The Strait of Hormuz connects west Asian
countries to the rest of the world whereas Suez is a major trade route
between Europe and Asia for oil needs. Every day 2.8 million barrels of
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crude oil and oil products pass through this canal.

4. Choke Points - These are strategically important for global trade and
energy flow. The Strait of Hormuz has become an important choke point in
recent years. Qatar, the world’s biggest LNG exporter, sends almost all of
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its LNG through this strait.

5. Strategic and Diplomatic Importance - Strategic straits play a decisive role

in the power of nations and their fate and also in the foreign policy of the
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coastal states along with the balance of regional and global power.
Ex : “Malacca Dilemma” a term that represents the potential factors that
could hinder China’s economic development through choking oil imports.

6. Development of New Routes - With growing conflicts and security issues

and the changing climate, importance of the Bering Strait has grown
(Geography Model Answer) UPSC Mains - English Medium / Indian Geography
Theme : Oceans
 overtime. Similarly, the Strait of Malacca, the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb and
the Strait of Hormuz complement each other and can be used in the
future as the "geopolitical triangle of Asia" .

There is no doubt in concluding that countries are heavily dependent on straits

and isthmus for international trade and maritime communication because of

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reduced transportation costs and access to new markets. But despite these
implications, it is also important to ensure that these financially vulnerable

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bodies aren’t being overused. Countries must come together to maintain their
biodiversity and develop action plans for their sustainable use.

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Q2. What are the forces that influence ocean currents?

Describe their role in fishing industry of the world. 2022
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(Answer in 250 words) 15 marks

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Ocean currents are the continuous, directional movement of seawater driven by

gravity, wind (Coriolis Effect), and water density. Ocean water moves in two
directions: horizontally and vertically. Horizontal movements are referred to as
currents, while vertical changes are called upwellings or downwellings.
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Ocean currents are basically influenced by two forces :

1. Primary Forces that initiate water movement
2. Secondary forces that influence the flow of current.

(Geography Model Answer) UPSC Mains - English Medium / Indian Geography

Theme : Oceans
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1. Temperature - Warm water is less dense than cold water, so it tends to rise
to the surface. This creates surface currents that move warm water away
from the equator and towards the poles. Cold water, on the other hand, is
(Geography Model Answer) UPSC Mains - English Medium / Indian Geography
Theme : Oceans
 more dense than warm water and tends to sink. This creates deep ocean
currents that move cold water toward the equator. Ex : Labrador Current

2. Salinity & Density - When water evaporates, it leaves behind salt, which
increases the salinity of the water. This increases the water’s density,
affecting vertical mobility of ocean currents causing it to sink and creating

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deep ocean currents. Ex : current flowing from the Atlantic Ocean to the

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Mediterranean Sea via Gibraltar Strait is caused due to heavy salinity.

3. Rainfall - The currents in the northern portion of the Indian Ocean change

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their direction from season to season in response to the seasonal rhythm
of the monsoons.

4. Atmospheric Pressure and Planetary Winds - Areas of high atmospheric

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pressure are characterized by a low volume of water and vice versa. Thus,
water moves as surface current from the areas of higher water level
(low-pressure areas) to low water level areas (high-pressure areas).
Planetary winds such as trade winds, westerlies, polar winds also play a
major role in the origin of ocean currents. They are responsible for both
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magnitude and direction of currents. Wind blowing on the water surface
also moves water in its direction due to friction.
Ex ; Equatorial currents flow westward due to influence of North East and
South West Trade winds.
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5. Coriolis Force - This force intervenes and causes the water to move to the
right in the Northern Hemisphere (clockwise) and to the left in the
Southern Hemisphere (anti-clockwise). This effect generates circular
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patterns and the flow around them are called Gyres.. One such circular
current is the Sargasso Sea.

6. Seamount - They have a big effect on the deep-sea environment. They

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accelerate ocean currents, generate waves and increase upwelling,

7. Coastal Regions - The shape of the coastline can affect the movement of
ocean currents by creating barriers and channels that alter their direction
and speed. Equatorial current gets obstructed by the Brazilian coast,
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bifurcating into 2 branches and then moving along the coast.

Role of Ocean Currents In Fishing Industry -

(Geography Model Answer) UPSC Mains - English Medium / Indian Geography

Theme : Oceans
 1. Regions where warm and cold ocean currents meet are rich fishing
grounds. Like meeting of Labrador current with Gulf stream off the coast
of Newfoundland.
Ex : Grand Bank near the North American coast in the Atlantic Ocean and
Dogger Bank near the European coast.

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2. Upwelling is the process by which deep, nutrient-rich water is brought to
the surface. It provides an abundance of nutrients for marine life. Areas of

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upwelling, such as the coasts of Peru and West Africa, are known for their
rich fishing grounds.

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3. Ocean currents also influence the migration pattern of fish by impacting
their timing and location. This creates retrograde ties in the fishing
industry.

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In summary, various influential forces that affect ocean currents also impact the
fishing industry and understanding their role could help in industry’s prosperity
and sustainability. Continuous studies and monitoring of these forces can lead to
better management and protection for future generations.
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Q3. Account for variations in oceanic salinity and discuss its
multi-dimensional effects. 2017
(Answer in 250 words) 15 marks
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Salinity is the total amount of dissolved salts in seawater. It’s generally

expressed as parts per thousand. Ocean water is highly saline, with salt
concentrations averaging about 35,000 ppm. Salts impart particular physical and
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chemical properties to water. For example, saline water has higher electrical
conductivity, higher density, a lower freezing point, and lower specific heat
capacity compared with pure water.

Variations in Ocean salinity -

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1. Evaporation -
● Evaporation increases the salinity of seawater because when
seawater evaporates, the salts are left behind, thus increasing their
concentration.
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● There are parts of the ocean where hardly any rain falls but warm
dry winds cause lots of evaporation.
● The north and south Atlantic have high salinity. These are areas
where there are strong winds and not much rain.
● Mediterranean Sea in Europe has very high salinity. It is almost
closed from the main ocean, and there is more evaporation than
there is rain or extra freshwater added from rivers
(Geography Model Answer) UPSC Mains - English Medium / Indian Geography
Theme : Oceans
 2. Precipitation - Precipitation and river input decrease salinity because the
input of freshwater dilutes the salts in seawater, thus decreasing their
concentration

3. Ice formation and melting -

● When ice forms, it occludes (leaves behind) the salt, thus increasing

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the salinity of seawater.
● When ice melts, the input of freshwater dilutes the salt content and

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reduces the salinity.
● Baltic Sea, almost enclosed by northern Europe and Scandinavia,
has a very low salinity. This is mainly due to the huge amount of

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freshwater added from hundreds of rivers.

4. Ocean Currents - They affect the spatial distribution of ocean salinity.

Oceanic currents affect the salinity by increasing and decreasing it. They

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have less impact on the enclosed sea’s salinity however the impact on the
salinity of marginal seas with open sea ducts is significant.

5. Global Warming - It can sometimes increase the salinity as the

evaporation rates will be higher, due to which the freshwater (light in
density) will evaporate while the denser saline water will remain in the
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sea.
Its Multi Dimensional Effects -

1. Ocean Circulation and Climate -

● Surface winds drive currents in the upper ocean. Deep below
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the surface, however, ocean circulation is primarily driven by

changes in seawater density, which is determined by salinity
The ocean stores more heat in the uppermost 3 meters than
the entire atmosphere. Thus density-controlled circulation is
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key to transporting heat in the ocean and maintaining Earth's

climate.
● Seawater is becoming fresher in high latitudes and tropical
areas dominated by rain, while in sub-tropical high
evaporation regions, waters are getting saltier. Such changes
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in the water cycle could significantly impact not only ocean

circulation but also the climate in which we live.
● As the salinity of water increases, the freezing point
decreases, meaning that an ocean of higher salinity has less
potential to form sea ice and therefore remains ice free at
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much lower temperatures. As well as having direct impacts on

the ocean circulation, this also results in less global ice
coverage, lowering the planetary albedo and consequently
warming the climate.

2. Marine biodiversity -

(Geography Model Answer) UPSC Mains - English Medium / Indian Geography

Theme : Oceans
 ● The density of seawater determines the sinking and floating
of living organisms in the sea. Despite having no fins, the
plankton are kept perpetually afloat due to the density of
seawater. Without plankton, entire marine ecosystem will
collapse, the atmospheric levels of oxygen will be altered-
posing threat to all forms of life even on land.
● Low salinity can cause a stress response in corals, resulting in

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decreased photosynthetic efficiency, inability to provide
essential nutrients through zooxanthellae, affecting survival

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and growth.
● The denser the water the less light that can get through to
the bottom of the ocean. Fish also have to adapt to this in

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order to survive and hunt their prey.
● Ocean currents that get affected by salinity of the pecan also
affect the survival of marine species.

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Ocean salinity is affected by factors such as temperature, influx of freshwater,
airflow, dominant winds, ocean currents and climate change. Small variations in
ocean surface salinity can have dramatic effects on the water cycle and ocean
circulation and at the same time on marine as well as terrestrial life.
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Q4. How do ocean currents and water masses differ in their impacts
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on marine life and the coastal environment? Give suitable

examples? 2019
(Answer in 250 words) 15 marks
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Our planet is composed of 70% water and 30% land. The oceans influence
weather and climate by storing solar radiation, distributing heat and moisture
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around the globe, and driving weather systems.

Ocean currents are continuous, predictable, directional movement of seawater
driven by gravity, wind (Coriolis Effect), and water density. Horizontal
movements of ocean water are referred to as currents, while vertical changes are
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called upwellings or downwellings.

Water mass is a body of ocean water with a distinctive narrow range of
temperature and salinity and a particular density resulting from these two
parameters. Water masses are formed as the result of climatic effects in specific
regions. Common water masses in the world ocean are - Antarctic Bottom Water,
Antarctic Intermediate Water, Arctic Intermediate Water, etc
(Geography Model Answer) UPSC Mains - English Medium / Indian Geography
Theme : Oceans
Ocean Currents and Water Masses differ in their impact on marine life and
coastal environment -

1. Impact on biodiversity -
● Currents are important in marine ecosystems because they

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redistribute water, heat, nutrients, and oxygen about the ocean.
They carry nutrients and food to organisms that live permanently

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attached in one place, and carry reproductive cells and ocean life to
new places.
● The physical parameters of water masses determine and structure

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the various habitats that create environmental conditions suitable
for marine life. This includes production and distribution of
planktons and fish species.

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2. Effects on coastal land -
● When land borders the ocean, the currents of the ocean warm or
cool it, depending on the nature of the particular current that flows
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by that land. In cases where a warm current flows along a particular
coast, that coastal area will generally be warmer than it would
otherwise be if it were landlocked. Similarly, cool currents cause
coastal lands to remain cooler than they would be if they were
landlocked.
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● Water masses impact the humidity and pressure of the air above its
surface, which in turn impacts the circulation of winds affecting
coastal environment Ex: Land breeze and Sea breeze.
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3. Marine Productivity -
● Ocean currents play a huge role in marine productivity, through a
process called upwelling. Sea life is concentrated in the sunlit
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waters near the surface, but most organic matter is far below, in
deep waters and on the seafloor. When currents upwell, or flow up
to the surface from beneath, they sweep vital nutrients back to
where they're needed most.
● The warm currents are rich in organic contents due to upwelling
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and cold currents are oxygen supportive. The region where these
currents meet is one of the most productive regions in terms of
fishing activities. Ex: The Japanese coast is suitable for large-scale
fishing due to mixing of Oyashio and Kuroshio currents.

4. Precipitation-
(Geography Model Answer) UPSC Mains - English Medium / Indian Geography
Theme : Oceans
 ● The amount of rainfall in an area is directly linked to its ocean
currents. The ocean currents and water masses influence the rainfall
in a certain region depending on various factors such as warm and
cold currents. All such geographical regions or coasts which have
cold ocean currents result in receiving less amount of rainfall.
Example: African coasts, have cold currents and as a result, receive

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less amount of rainfall forming the Sahara Desert.

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5. Formation of sea ice -
● Thermohaline circulation begins in the Earth's polar regions. When
ocean water in these areas gets very cold, sea ice forms. The

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surrounding seawater gets saltier, increases in density and sinks.
● The region of temperate climates suffer from sea ice formation
which affects coastal navigation leading to loss of economic activity.

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Warm currents prevent the formation of sea ice even though the
region is close to poles.
● Canadian ports located near Newfoundland suffer from sea ice
formation due to the presence of cold Labrador current. Whereas
the ports of Norway and the United Kingdom do not experience sea
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ice in spite of them located in higher latitudes than Canadian ports.
This is due to the warm gulf stream.

Ocean currents act much like a conveyor belt, transporting warm water and
precipitation from the equator toward the poles and cold water from the poles
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back to the tropics. Thus, ocean currents regulate global climate, helping to
counteract the uneven distribution of solar radiation reaching Earth’s surface.
Whereas water masses affect the salinity and temperature of the oceans thus
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having less dramatic impact on the climate around.

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(Geography Model Answer) UPSC Mains - English Medium / Indian Geography

Theme : Oceans