Physical Geography Hydrosphere

Explanation

Isotherms on maps represent lines connecting points of equal temperature. In January, isotherms generally deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent due to various factors like the distribution of land and water, ocean currents, and atmospheric circulation patterns. This deviation helps in understanding the temperature distribution across regions during that time of the year.

Explanation

The Red Sea receives very little precipitation because it is located in a region with arid climate conditions. Additionally, no rivers flow into the Red Sea, resulting in the absence of freshwater inflow into the sea.

Explanation

India does indeed extract more than a quarter of the world's groundwater each year, as stated in Statement-I. However, the reason provided in Statement-II, that India needs to extract this amount to satisfy the drinking water and sanitation needs of almost 18% of the world's population living in its territory, is incorrect. The extraction of groundwater is influenced by various factors beyond just the drinking water and sanitation needs of the population.

Explanation

Lake Faguibine in West Africa has become dry and turned into a desert due to changes in climate patterns and human activities such as irrigation and dam construction. The reduction in water flow into the lake has led to its desiccation over time, transforming the area into a desert landscape.

Explanation

The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater because polar ice caps and glaciers hold about 68.7% of the world's fresh water, while groundwater accounts for about 30.1%. This makes statement 2 correct.

Explanation

In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections due to the influence of trade winds that push warm surface water towards the western side. In the temperate zone, westerlies bring warmer air and water to the eastern sections of oceans, making them warmer than the western sections.

Explanation

Both statements are accurate regarding the temperature differences in ocean regions affected by trade winds and westerlies.

Explanation

Both statements accurately explain how wind patterns affect ocean temperatures.

Explanation

In the context of Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), the statement that OMT is measured up to a depth of the 26°C isotherm, which corresponds to 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean from January to March, is incorrect. The correct depth of the 26°C isotherm in this region during this period is 59 meters. Therefore, statement 1 is inaccurate.

Explanation

When heavy sand mining occurs in riverbeds, it can lead to several negative impacts. These include pollution of groundwater and the lowering of the water-table. Therefore, the correct consequences of heavy sand mining in riverbeds are options 2 and 3 only, as stated in option (b).

Explanation

The Aral Sea, once the fourth largest lake globally, has drastically reduced in size due to human activities. Lake Baikal has also faced challenges, but there is no mention of it shrinking significantly.

Explanation

The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is a phenomenon where the sea surface temperature in the western Indian Ocean fluctuates between being warmer and colder compared to the eastern part of the Indian Ocean. This means that the first statement, which suggests a difference in sea surface temperature between the tropical Western Indian Ocean and the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean, is incorrect.

Explanation

Tides in the oceans and seas are a result of the gravitational forces from the Sun and the Moon, as well as the centrifugal force of the Earth. These forces combined lead to the rise and fall of sea levels.

Explanation

The eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current is caused by the Earth rotating on its axis.

Explanation

The majority of freshwater on Earth is stored in ice caps and glaciers. The next largest portion of freshwater is found underground as groundwater.

Explanation

The primary locations for fishing around the world are typically where warm and cold ocean currents converge. This mixing of currents provides an abundance of plankton, which serves as food for the fish in those areas.

Explanation

The factors that influence ocean currents are the rotation of the Earth, air pressure, and wind, as well as the density of ocean water. The revolution of the Earth does not have any impact on ocean currents.

Explanation

In severe winter, when a lake's surface freezes while the water at the bottom remains liquid, it is because water reaches its maximum density at 4°C. This phenomenon is due to the anomalous expansion of water as it cools from 4°C to 0°C.

Explanation

In the world, less than 1% of the total water available is fresh water for use. Approximately 68.7% of this fresh water is stored in polar ice caps and glaciers.

Explanation

The region known as the Horse latitudes can be found between 30° to 35° north and south of the equator. This area is characterized by a high-pressure ridge.

Explanation

In the comparison between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, the Atlantic Ocean experiences a higher annual temperature range. Additionally, due to the larger landmass in the Northern Hemisphere, the annual temperature range is greater in the Northern Hemisphere than in the Southern Hemisphere.

Explanation

Diamantine Trench is located in the southeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It reaches a depth of 8047 meters.

Explanation

In the examination question on Physical Geography, three statements were presented. The first statement indicated that the total land area of the Earth is around 1475 lakh square kilometers. The second statement mentioned that the ratio of land area to water area of the Earth is approximately 1:4. The third statement stated that the Pacific Ocean holds the largest percentage of the Earth's water. The correct statements among these were found to be the first and third statements, making the correct answer choice (a). The original data provided that the total land area of the Earth is 148226000 km2, resulting in a ratio of land area to water area of approximately 1:3.

Explanation

In the realm of physical geography, ocean currents are vital movements of water on the ocean's surface. These currents play a crucial role in regulating the Earth's heat distribution. Prevailing winds are the primary force behind setting ocean currents in motion, while the ocean's configuration also influences their flow. Therefore, statements 2, 3, and 4 are accurate.

Explanation

Periyar Lake is not classified as a lagoon because it is an artificial lake created by a dam on the Mulloperiyar River within the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Explanation

Explanation: During neap tides, the high tide is lower and the low tide is higher than usual because neap tides occur during the new moon phase, unlike spring tides which occur during the full moon phase. This happens because the sun, earth, and moon align in quadrature on the seventh and eighth days of each fortnight, causing the tide-producing forces to work in opposite directions and result in low tides.

Explanation

The map displays two ocean currents. One is the Benguela, a cold current moving northward along Africa's west coast. The other is the Guinea current, a warm current flowing east of Guinea along the same coast. The correct pair of ocean currents shown on the map is Benguela and Guinea.

Explanation

The ocean tide will reach its maximum height at position 'M4' in the diagram, as this is the point where the Earth, Moon, and Sun are aligned in a straight line.

Explanation

Capillarity is the natural phenomenon of liquid rising in a narrow space like a thin tube. This process is not responsible for the rising of underground water, unlike in the blotting of ink, spreading of a water drop on a cotton cloth, and the movement of water from a plant's roots to its leaves.

Explanation

The change in the normal direction of ocean currents in the Indian Ocean is mainly caused by the monsoon drift. This phenomenon occurs twice a year.