Oceans and Continents
1. What are oceans and continents? Name them.
Answer: Oceans are vast water bodies covering almost three-fourths of the Earth’s surface, while continents are large landmasses covering a little over one-fourth of the surface.
- Oceans: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Southern (Antarctic) Ocean.
- Continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia.
2. Why is the Earth called the ‘Blue Planet’?
Answer: The Earth is called the ‘Blue Planet’ because almost three-fourths of its surface is covered with water, which makes it appear blue when seen from outer space.
3. How do oceans impact life on Earth?
Answer: Oceans regulate the climate, bring rain to continents, and sustain marine life, which produces more than half of the world’s oxygen. Oceans also play a key role in trade, transport, and provide food through fishing.
4. What is the difference between an ocean and a sea?
Answer: An ocean is a vast, continuous body of saltwater, while a sea is a smaller extension of an ocean, often partially enclosed by land.
5. Explain the role of oceans in natural disasters.
Answer: Oceans can give rise to natural disasters such as cyclones, tsunamis, and storms. Cyclones bring strong winds and heavy rains, while tsunamis are caused by underwater earthquakes or volcanic eruptions, leading to large waves that can cause extensive coastal damage.
6. What was the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and how did it affect India?
Answer: The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was caused by an earthquake in Indonesia and affected 14 countries, including India. It caused massive destruction, particularly in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the coasts of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, resulting in the loss of over two lakh lives.
7. How many continents are there? Why are there different counts of continents?
Answer: There are generally seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. However, depending on how landmasses are grouped, continents can be counted as four, five, six, or seven.
8. What is an island, and which is the largest island in the world?
Answer: An island is a landmass surrounded by water on all sides. Greenland is the largest island in the world.
9. What is the importance of oceans in regulating the Earth’s climate?
Answer: Oceans absorb heat from the sun, helping to regulate the global climate. They are responsible for driving weather patterns, including the monsoon rains that are vital for agriculture in many parts of the world.
10. What are the major environmental issues facing the oceans today?
Answer: The major environmental issues include pollution (especially plastic waste), overfishing, and the decline of marine biodiversity. These factors threaten the balance of marine ecosystems and the health of the oceans.
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