Geography · Environmental Studies

Oceanography and Hydrology

1,743 Questions

Find relevant questions on oceanography and hydrology that address aquatic ecosystems and physical geography. The topics include coastal landforms, coral reefs, ocean salinity, and tidal patterns. These concepts frequently appear in civil services and state level administrative examinations.

Coral reef structuresCoastal landformsOcean salinity patternsGlacial retreat impactsMangrove ecosystems

Oceanography and Hydrology Questions

Multiple choice

Assertion (A): Oceanic salinity is higher along Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Reason (R): Increased evaporation coupled with relatively more insolation along these latitudes causes higher oceanic salinity.

  1. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

  2. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

  3. (A) is true, but (R) is false.

  4. (A) is false, but (R) is true.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

 On an average, salinity decreases from equator towards the poles. It may be mentioned that the highest salinity is seldom recorded near the equator; though this zone records high temperature and evaporation but high rainfall reduces the relative portion of salt. Thus, the equator accounts for only 35% salinity. The highest salinity is observed between 20°- 40° N 36% because this zone is characterized by high temperature, high evaporation but significantly low rainfall.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Ocean currents are slow-surface movements of water in the ocean.
  2. Ocean currents assist in maintaining Earth’s heat balance.
  3. Ocean currents are set in motion primarily by prevailing winds.
  4. Ocean currents are affected by the configuration of the ocean.

Which of the above statements are correct?

  1. 1 and 2

  2. 2, 3 and 4

  3. 1, 3 and 4

  4. 1, 2, 3 and 4
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Ocean currents are not slow most of the time and can be subsurface currents also. So, statement 1 is wrong. But 2’, ‘3’ and ‘4’ statements are correct. 

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements:

  1. Total land area of Earth is approximately 1475 lakh square kilometres.
  2. Ratio of land area to water area of Earth is approximately 1 : 4.
  3. Maximum percentage of Earth’s water is in the Pacific Ocean.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 and 3

  2. 2 and 3

  3. 1 only

  4. 3 only
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Total land area of Earth is 148226000 km2. So, the ratio of land area to water area of Earth is approximately 1 : 3.

Multiple choice

Spits develop due to

  1. circular movement of water currents along the bays

  2. formation of longshore drifts towards the coast

  3. formation of large scale deposits of fine grained dust

  4. oblique movement of water currents along the shores

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Spits are depositional landforms formed by longshore drift, which transports sediment along the coast and deposits it where the coastline changes direction, such as at a bay or river mouth.

Multiple choice

Pelagic deposits consist of:

  1. terrigenous materials

  2. cosmic materials

  3. inorganic materials

  4. organic ooze materials

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Pelagic deposits are deep-sea sediments that accumulate on the ocean floor, far from land. They are primarily composed of organic oozes (remains of microscopic marine organisms) and red clays.

Multiple choice

Consider the following statements :

  1. Florida current passes through the Yucatan channel before entering Gulf of Mexico.
  2. Florida current possesses the characteristics of the equatorial water mass. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only

  2. 2 only

  3. Both 1 and 2

  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Florida Current is a continuation of the Loop Current, which passes through the Yucatan Channel. It carries warm, saline water from the Caribbean, characteristic of the equatorial water mass.

Multiple choice

Consider the map given below:

The division along India’s coastal region indicates

  1. coastal pollution zones

  2. salinity density isopleths

  3. the areas up to which Indian sovereignty extends

  4. underwater relief contours
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The given map indicates the coastal region underwater relief contours of India. In this region, some islands like Andaman, Nicobar and Lakshadweep are present. – Qman basin, Arabian basin – Chapo Ridge