UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 18: Ocean Currents, Waves and Tides (22 MCQs)

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UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 18: Ocean Currents, Waves and Tides (22 MCQs) – 22 questions, subject: Geography. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

Ocean waves mainly transfer:

Correct Answer: D [energy across the ocean surface]

Explanation:

Waves are energy moving across the surface; water particles only move in small circles as the wave passes.

2.  

The horizontal distance between two successive crests is the:

Correct Answer: D [wavelength]

Explanation:

Wavelength is defined as the horizontal distance between two successive crests.

3.  

Spring tides occur when:

Correct Answer: A [the Sun, Moon and Earth are in a straight line]

Explanation:

When the Sun, Moon and Earth are in a line, at new and full moon, their pulls add up and give higher tides.

4.  

The highest tides in the world occur in the:

Correct Answer: C [Bay of Fundy]

Explanation:

NCERT records the world's highest tides, with a tidal bulge of about 15–16 m, in the funnel-shaped Bay of Fundy, Canada.

5.  

A tide with only one high and one low tide each day is called:

Correct Answer: C [diurnal]

Explanation:

A diurnal tide has only one high tide and one low tide during each day.

6.  

A rise of sea level caused by winds and atmospheric pressure changes is called a:

Correct Answer: B [surge]

Explanation:

NCERT calls water movement caused by winds and atmospheric pressure changes a surge; unlike tides, surges are not regular.

7.  

Which of the following is a cold current?

Correct Answer: A [Benguela]

Explanation:

The Benguela is a cold current flowing north along the south-west coast of Africa towards the equator.

8.  

Surface currents make up about what share of all the water in the ocean?

Correct Answer: D [10 per cent]

Explanation:

Surface currents occupy the upper 400 m and form about 10 per cent of ocean water; deep currents form the other 90 per cent.

9.  

The Kuroshio and Oyashio currents meet near:

Correct Answer: C [Japan]

Explanation:

The warm Kuroshio and the cold Oyashio meet off north-east Japan, creating one of the world's richest fishing grounds.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. Cold currents are usually found on the western coasts of continents in low and middle latitudes.
2. Warm currents are usually found on the eastern coasts of continents in low and middle latitudes.
3. Cold currents usually bring heavy rainfall to the coasts they wash.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2 give NCERT's general pattern; statement 3 is false because cold currents bring fog and aridity.

11.  

Assertion (A): The Atacama and Namib coasts are among the driest places on Earth.

Reason (R): Cold currents cool the air above them, which then gives fog but little rain.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Cold Peru and Benguela currents chill and stabilise the air above, giving fog but little rain, so R explains the coastal deserts.

12.  

Neap tides occur about how many days after a spring tide?

Correct Answer: A [Seven]

Explanation:

NCERT notes a seven-day interval between spring and neap tides, as the Moon moves from line to right angle.

13.  

The North Atlantic Drift keeps the ports of which coast ice-free in winter?

Correct Answer: C [Norway]

Explanation:

The warm North Atlantic Drift reaches the Norwegian coast and keeps its ports ice-free even in winter.

14.  

Deep-water currents are driven mainly by:

Correct Answer: D [differences in density due to temperature and salinity]

Explanation:

Deep-water currents, about 90 per cent of ocean water, move because cold or salty dense water sinks under gravity.

15.  

In the north Indian Ocean, surface currents:

Correct Answer: A [reverse with the monsoon seasons]

Explanation:

In the north Indian Ocean the flow is clockwise in the south-west monsoon and anticlockwise in the north-east monsoon.

16.  

The Peru (Humboldt) Current flows:

Correct Answer: B [northward along the west coast of South America]

Explanation:

The cold Peru (Humboldt) Current flows north towards the equator along the west coast of South America.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Ekman's theory of wind-driven currents
2. Franklin's chart of the Gulf Stream
3. Indian Tsunami Early Warning Centre set up
4. Argo float programme begins

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-1-4-3]

Explanation:

1770, 1905, 2000, 2007.

18.  

The best fishing grounds of the world are mainly found where:

Correct Answer: A [warm and cold currents mix]

Explanation:

Mixing of warm and cold currents replenishes oxygen and nutrients, favouring plankton growth, as off Newfoundland and Japan.

19.  

Unusually high and low tides occur when the Moon is at:

Correct Answer: D [perigee]

Explanation:

At perigee the Moon is closest to the Earth, so its pull is strongest and tides are unusually high and low.

20.  

The Indian coasts with large tidal ranges, studied for tidal power, are the:

Correct Answer: B [Gulfs of Khambhat and Kachchh]

Explanation:

The funnel-shaped Gulfs of Khambhat and Kachchh have India's largest tidal ranges and have been studied for tidal power.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2015

What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current?

Correct Answer: B [Convergence of the two equatorial currents]

Explanation:

the westward North and South Equatorial Currents pile up water in the west; it returns eastward between them.

22.  
UPSC Prelims 2015

Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following?

1. Gravitational force of the Sun
2. Gravitational force of the Moon
3. Centrifugal force of the Earth

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: D [1, 2 and 3]

Explanation:

the Moon's and Sun's gravity and the centrifugal force together create the tidal bulges.

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