Geography Practice Questions

(Chapter 1 : Oceans and Seas)

What percentage of Earth's surface is covered by oceans and seas?

Oceans and seas cover more than 70% of Earth's surface.

How much of the planet's water is contained in oceans and seas?

Oceans and seas contain 97% of the Earth's water.

What are the two critical functions of oceans?

They are home to essential ecosystems and regulate the planet's climate.

What is the largest body of saltwater on Earth?

Oceans are the largest bodies of saltwater on Earth.

How are seas different from oceans in terms of size?

Seas are smaller bodies of saltwater located near or within oceans.

What is the average depth of oceans?

Oceans have an average depth of about 3,700 meters (12,000 feet).

How deep are seas on average compared to oceans?

Seas are generally less than 1,000 meters (3,300 feet) deep.

Which has more marine diversity: oceans or seas?

Oceans have greater marine diversity than seas.

How many oceans are there on Earth?

There are five oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern, and Arctic.

What is the largest ocean on Earth?

The Pacific Ocean is the largest, covering about 45% of Earth's ocean area.

What is the deepest point on Earth?

The Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench is the deepest point, at 11,034 meters.

Which ocean has the most marine biodiversity?

The Pacific Ocean has the most marine biodiversity.

What percentage of Earth's ocean area does the Atlantic Ocean cover?
The Atlantic Ocean covers about 26% of the Earth's ocean area.

Why is the Atlantic Ocean considered the most saline?

The North and South Atlantic have some of the saltiest waters on Earth.
 What is the total area of the Indian Ocean?
The Indian Ocean spans 69 million square kilometers.

What is the deepest point in the Indian Ocean?

The Java Trench, at a depth of 7,258 meters.

What is the Southern Ocean's unique characteristic?

It forms a circular band around Antarctica and is the second-coldest ocean.

What is the smallest ocean in the world?

The Arctic Ocean is the smallest.

What is the total area of the Arctic Ocean?

The Arctic Ocean covers 14.06 million square kilometers.

Which ocean is warming the fastest due to climate change?

The Arctic Ocean is warming the fastest.

What are marginal seas?

They are seas partially enclosed by islands, archipelagos, or peninsulas.

Which marginal seas are part of the Pacific Ocean?

The Bering Sea and the Tasman Sea are examples.

How much of the Earth's ocean water volume is there in total?

The total volume of the world's ocean water is 1.35 billion cubic kilometers.

What connects the Arabian Sea to the Persian Gulf?

The Gulf of Oman connects the Arabian Sea to the Persian Gulf.

Which seas form part of the Southern Ocean?

The Weddell Sea and the Ross Sea are part of the Southern Ocean.

What are seas?

Seas are smaller than oceans and are usually located where the land and the ocean meet.

How is the Caspian Sea unique?

The Caspian Sea is the only sea that is completely landlocked.

How many seas are there worldwide?

There are more than fifty seas worldwide, each with unique characteristics.

What ocean is the Arabian Sea part of?

The Arabian Sea is a part of the Indian Ocean.
 What countries surround the Arabian Sea?
India, Iran, the Maldives, Oman, Yemen, Somalia, and Pakistan surround the Arabian Sea.

What connects the Arabian Sea to the Persian Gulf?

The Gulf of Oman connects the Arabian Sea to the Persian Gulf.

Which rivers flow into the Arabian Sea?

The Indus and Narmada Rivers flow into the Arabian Sea.

What is the significance of Gwadar Port in the Arabian Sea?

It plays a key role in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and boosts trade with
Central Asia.

What is the size and depth of the Black Sea?

The Black Sea is 444,000 km² in size and up to 2,200 meters deep.

What connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean Sea?

The Black Sea connects to the Mediterranean Sea through Turkey.

How many rivers feed the Black Sea?

Six rivers feed the Black Sea.

Where is the Baltic Sea located?

The Baltic Sea lies between the Scandinavian Peninsula and continental Europe.

What ocean is the Baltic Sea a part of?

The Baltic Sea is a part of the Atlantic Ocean.

What happens to the Baltic Sea in winter?

Packed ice settles in the Gulf of Bothnia in the northern Baltic Sea during winter.

What is the approximate size of the Baltic Sea?

The Baltic Sea is approximately 386,000 km² in size.

What is a gulf?
A gulf is a deep inlet of ocean or sea surrounded by land, with a narrow opening to the wider
ocean.

How are gulfs formed?

Gulfs are thought to be formed by movements of the Earth's tectonic plates or crust.

What is unique about the Persian Gulf?

The Persian Gulf, part of the Indian Ocean, has high salinity levels and connects to the Arabian
Sea via the Strait of Hormuz.
 What is a bay?
A bay is a body of water connected to an ocean and partially surrounded by a curved piece of
land.

How is a bay different from a gulf?

Bays are smaller, less enclosed, and have a wider mouth compared to gulfs.

Which is the largest bay in the world?

The Bay of Bengal is the largest bay in the world.

What is a bight?
A bight is a long, gradual curve or recess in the shoreline, often shallow and open to the sea.

What is the Great Australian Bight?

The Great Australian Bight is one of the largest bights, extending 1,160 km along the shoreline.

What is a strait?
A strait is a narrow waterway that flows between two landmasses, connecting two larger water
bodies.

Give an example of a famous strait.

The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea.

What is the world’s longest strait?

The Strait of Malacca, between Malaysia and Indonesia, is the longest at 800 km.

What is a peninsula?
A peninsula is a landmass connected to the mainland and surrounded on three sides by water.

Give an example of a well-known peninsula.

The Arabian Peninsula is a well-known example of a large and chunky peninsula.

What is an isthmus?
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land separating two water bodies and connecting two larger
landmasses.

What is unique about the Isthmus of Panama?

The Isthmus of Panama connects North and South America and separates the Pacific Ocean
and the Caribbean Sea.

What causes ocean water to be in motion?

The motion of ocean water is caused by waves, tides, and currents.

What is an ocean current?

An ocean current is the continuous, directional movement of seawater driven by gravity, wind,
and water density.
 What factors influence the path of surface currents?
Tides, coastline shapes, the seafloor, and the Earth's rotation influence surface currents.

What role do ocean currents play in climate control?

Ocean currents move heat from the equator to the poles, helping regulate the global climate.

How do ocean currents sustain marine life?

Currents carry nutrients, reproductive cells, and organisms to new areas, supporting marine
ecosystems.

What are wind-driven currents?

Wind-driven currents are caused by winds blowing on the ocean surface and often move in
large circular patterns called gyres.

What is thermohaline circulation?

Thermohaline circulation is the movement of water caused by differences in temperature and
salinity, also known as the "great ocean conveyor belt."

How does thermohaline circulation balance Earth's temperature?

It moves cold water to warmer areas and warm water to cooler areas, stabilizing temperatures
worldwide.

What are gyres?

Gyres are large, circular patterns of ocean currents created by wind-driven movement of
surface water.

What can generate ocean waves?

Ocean waves are primarily generated by wind blowing across the water’s surface.

What factors determine wave height?

Wave height depends on wind speed, wind duration, and the fetch (the distance wind travels
over water).

What is the crest of a wave?

The crest is the highest part of a wave.

What is the trough of a wave?

The trough is the lowest part of a wave.

What is a tsunami?
A tsunami is a series of large waves caused by underwater disturbances like earthquakes or
volcanic eruptions.

What is a tide?
A tide is the alternate rising and falling of sea levels, occurring approximately every six hours.
 What causes tides?
Tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon and, to a lesser extent, the Sun.

Why are there two high tides and two low tides daily?
The Earth rotates through two tidal bulges created by the Moon’s gravitational pull, causing
two high tides and two low tides every day.

What are spring tides?

Spring tides occur when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are aligned, causing higher-than-normal
tides.

What are neap tides?

Neap tides occur when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other, causing lower-than-
normal tides.

How far apart are two high tides?

High tides occur 12 hours and 25 minutes apart.

What is the duration for the water at the shore to transition from high to low tide?
It takes about 6 hours and 12.5 minutes for the tide to transition.

How long does thermohaline circulation take to complete a full cycle?

Thermohaline circulation takes approximately 1,000 years to complete one circuit around the
planet.

What happens when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are in a straight line?
Spring tides occur, with higher-than-normal water levels.

What happens when the Sun and Moon are at right angles to each other?
Neap tides occur, with lower-than-normal water levels.

How does the Sun’s gravitational pull affect tides?

The Sun’s gravitational pull enhances tides when aligned with the Moon but reduces them when
at right angles to the Moon.

What are plankton?

Plankton are microscopic organisms that float or drift near the ocean's surface. They include
phytoplankton (plant-like) and zooplankton (animal-like).

What are nekton?

Nekton are organisms that swim in the open ocean, such as whales and dolphins.

What are benthos?

Benthos are organisms that live on the ocean floor, including crabs, starfish, sponges, clams,
and seaweed.
 How are ocean waters divided into zones?
Ocean waters are divided into three zones based on sunlight: the Sunlight Zone, Twilight Zone,
and Dark Zone.

What is the depth range of the Sunlight Zone?

The Sunlight Zone extends from the surface down to 660 feet (200 meters).

What is the depth range of the Twilight Zone?

The Twilight Zone extends from 660 to 3300 feet (200 to 1000 meters).

What is the Dark Zone?

The Dark Zone starts at 3300 feet (1000 meters) and extends to the ocean floor, with no
sunlight reaching this region.

What factors determine the number of marine species in an area?

Water depth, temperature, and the amount of sunlight are key factors.

What is the epipelagic zone?

The epipelagic zone is the uppermost layer of the ocean where iconic animals like whales,
dolphins, sharks, and tunas are found.

Where is the warmest ocean water found?

The warmest ocean water is found in tropical regions.

Where is the coldest ocean water found?

The coldest ocean water is found in polar seas.

What kind of marine life is found in tropical regions?

Tropical regions have the greatest diversity of marine species, including coral reefs.

What are coral reefs sometimes called?

Coral reefs are sometimes called the "rainforests of the sea."

What is special about temperate ocean waters?

Temperate waters host migrating animals and are where most fish consumed by humans are
caught.

What kind of marine life is found in polar seas?

Few species live year-round in polar seas, such as walruses, polar bears, and polar fish.

What adaptation helps polar fish survive freezing temperatures?

Polar fish have blood that does not freeze.

How do walruses, whales, and polar bears stay warm in polar seas?
They have insulating fat or fur to keep warm.
 What percentage of life on Earth lives in the ocean?
Over 80% of life on Earth lives in the ocean.

What is the average depth of the ocean?

The average depth of the ocean is 12,400 feet.

What percentage of volcanic activity occurs in the ocean?

Around 90% of volcanic activity occurs in the world's oceans.

Where do coral reefs form?

Coral reefs form in tropical regions with rocky seafloors.

What type of animals are most commonly found in temperate waters?

Many fish species that humans consume are found in temperate waters.

What is a key characteristic of tropical marine regions?

Tropical regions are known for their biodiversity and colorful coral reefs.

What role do oceans play for marine species?

Oceans provide habitats, food, and a medium for migration and reproduction.

Why are polar seas important for marine life?

Polar seas support unique ecosystems and species adapted to extreme cold.

What is aquaculture?
Aquaculture is the breeding, raising, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants in
healthier habitats.

What is the purpose of aquaculture?

It is used to rebuild stocks of threatened or endangered species and to provide food resources.

How has marine fishing improved?

Improved methods, such as drift nets, have made marine fishing more efficient, productive, and
profitable.

Why are governments placing restrictions on fishing?

Restrictions are placed to prevent overfishing and to protect baby fish by limiting the size of
nets and setting quotas.

What are some uses of seaweed?

Seaweed is used as a thickener in food products, cosmetics, animal feed, and fertilizers.

What is special about kelp?

Kelp is a type of seaweed that can grow as much as 33 cm a day and is used in products like
jellies and ice cream.
 How do seaweed farms benefit the environment?
They improve water quality and shield surrounding areas from ocean acidification.

What role does seaweed play in Japanese cuisine?

Seaweed is a staple in the Japanese diet and is used in dishes like sushi.

How much fishery and aquaculture production was achieved in 2020?

It reached an all-time record of 214 million tonnes.

What is the annual revenue from marine fisheries globally?

The gross revenue is estimated at $80 to $85 billion annually.

How many people are employed in fishing and fish farming globally?
Around 60 million people, with 39 million in fishing and 20.5 million in fish farming.

What are the main fossil fuels extracted from the ocean?
Coal, crude oil, and natural gas.

What challenges are associated with underwater fuel extraction?

High pressure at depths makes controlling oil leaks and gas releases difficult.

What are oil rigs used for besides fuel extraction?

Oil rigs are used as artificial reefs and for monitoring the environment and collecting scientific
data.

What are seafloor mineral nodules made of?

They are primarily made of manganese, iron, copper, nickel, and cobalt.

What is phosphate from the ocean floor used for?

Phosphate is used to make fertilizers.

What industrial use does magnesium from seawater have?

Magnesium is used in cosmetics, toothpaste, animal feed, and various industrial processes.

What is desalination?
Desalination is the process of removing salt from seawater to produce freshwater for human
use.

Why is desalination expensive?

The process is technologically complex and energy-intensive.

Which countries rely heavily on desalination?

Countries in dry regions, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, rely on desalination plants for
fresh water.
 What are some technologies used in desalination plants?
Thermal, membrane, and hybrid desalination technologies.

What is tidal energy?

Tidal energy is generated from the movement of tides, particularly when water during high tide
is channeled through narrow passages.

What is a benefit of tidal energy?

It is a clean, inexpensive, and renewable energy resource.

Why is tidal energy not practical everywhere?

It is only practical in areas with shallow, narrow coastal channels.

What are some examples of marine resources?

Food (fish, seaweed), energy (tidal and wave energy), raw materials (minerals), and fresh
water through desalination.

What are some threats to the oceans? Oceans face dangers such as overfishing, rising sea
levels, and pollution from waste and industrial runoff.

How has human activity affected coastal landscapes? Coastal areas are altered by
dumping waste, building settlements, and cutting down mangrove trees.

What happens when oceans become warmer and more acidic? These changes reduce
oxygen levels and disrupt marine ecosystems.

What is overfishing? Overfishing refers to catching fish faster than they can reproduce,
threatening oceanic ecosystems.

What percentage of fish stocks are overfished? Over one-third of global fish stocks are
being overfished, according to the FAO.

How do trawlers affect the ocean? Trawlers' vast nets harm the seabed and disrupt marine
life.

What is the role of marine reserves? Marine reserves help protect biodiversity by
conserving ocean ecosystems.

How does global warming affect sea levels? Global warming causes sea levels to rise,
threatening coastal populations.

How much heat do the oceans absorb from greenhouse gases? The oceans have absorbed
more than 90% of the heat caused by greenhouse gases.

What is Ocean Heat Content (OHC)? OHC describes the amount of heat stored in the
ocean, which has increased in recent years.
 Why are icebergs melting faster? Icebergs are melting quickly due to climate change, as
seen in Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon.

How much of the Earth’s surface do oceans cover? Oceans cover 71% of the Earth’s
surface.

What role do oceans play in regulating climate? Oceans help regulate the global climate
by storing heat and influencing weather patterns.

What is the significance of oceans to life on Earth? Oceans are home to 80% of life on
Earth and provide oxygen and food.

What has caused oxygen depletion in coastal waters? Agricultural waste, chemical
pesticides, and other inorganic nutrients deplete oxygen levels.

How do oil spills affect the ocean? Oil spills poison marine life and disrupt ecosystems by
suffocating or poisoning animals.

What happened during the Tasman Spirit Oil Spill? The Tasman Spirit Oil Spill in 2003
had severe impacts on Karachi's marine system.

What is one major source of ocean pollution? Factories and industrial plants discharge
sewage and other pollutants into the oceans.

How do invasive species affect marine ecosystems? Invasive species like poisonous algae
disrupt the ecological balance of the oceans.

What role do beach cleaning drives play? Beach cleaning helps remove pollutants like
marine debris, oil spills, and sewage.

How long did oil spill cleanup at Koh Samet last? The oil spill cleanup at Koh Samet,
Thailand, lasted for several weeks.

How do oil spills kill surface-dwelling animals? Oil spills can poison or suffocate animals
and birds living near the ocean surface.

What percentage of ocean pollutants come from air pollution? Air pollution contributes
about one-third of the toxic contaminants entering the oceans.

What is the main cause of oxygen depletion in the oceans? Agricultural and industrial
runoff, especially from pesticides, is a major cause of oxygen depletion.

What is the impact of industrial waste on marine life? Industrial waste harms marine
plants and animals, disrupting biodiversity.
 What has encouraged governments to focus on ocean sustainability? Awareness of
climate disasters and increasing concern for the environment has prompted stricter measures for
sustainability.

What is one step for ocean sustainability? Establishing marine parks helps protect ocean
biodiversity.

How can data on marine pollution be presented? Data can be gathered through the
internet and news outlets to show the cause and effect of marine pollution.

What fishing practices should be avoided? Destructive practices like trawling and the use
of military sonar should be avoided.

How can fishermen maintain their livelihoods while conserving the ocean? Fishermen
can be supported by incorporating conservation efforts into their practices.

Why should methods that catch baby fish be restricted? Restricting these methods helps
protect the future fish population and marine ecosystems.

What should be done with companies that harm the ocean? People should disengage
with companies that do not follow sustainable fishing, dumping, and mining practices.

What is the Indonesia Sustainable Oceans Program (ISOP)? ISOP aims to increase
knowledge, awareness, and strengthen coordination for sustainable ocean management in
Indonesia.

What is the focus of ISOP's efforts? ISOP focuses on reducing marine debris,
strengthening coastal resources, and working with various stakeholders to manage oceans
sustainably.

How does ISOP involve local communities? ISOP works with local communities,
governments, academia, NGOs, and donors to implement sustainable practices.

What is a key goal of ISOP? One goal of ISOP is to support sustainable fisheries and
coastal livelihoods.

What is being built to protect marine ecosystems in Indonesia? Healthy coastal and
marine ecosystems are being built through ISOP's initiatives.

How is marine pollution being addressed? ISOP works on reducing marine pollution as
part of its sustainable management strategy.

What does ISOP do to strengthen monitoring and evaluation? ISOP strengthens policies
and institutions to ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of ocean management.
 How many undersea World Heritage sites have been created? Over two dozen undersea
World Heritage sites have been created by coastal nations.

Why are undersea World Heritage sites important? They are significant areas that need
protection for future generations.

Where is one of the famous marine parks located? The Ang Thong Marine Park is
located in Thailand.

What are marine parks? Marine parks are protected areas of the ocean that conserve
marine biodiversity.

How can individuals help in ocean conservation? Individuals can support sustainable
fishing and avoid destructive practices like trawling.

What is the role of governments in ocean sustainability? Governments can place

restrictions and enforce measures to protect oceans and marine life.

What are some partners in the sustainable management of oceans? Local communities,
academia, NGOs, and donors are key partners in sustainable ocean management.

How do marine parks help biodiversity? Marine parks provide safe habitats for marine
species, helping to maintain biodiversity.

What is a major issue with destructive fishing practices? Destructive fishing practices
like trawling damage ecosystems and deplete marine resources.

How does ISOP contribute to coastal resources? ISOP strengthens coastal resources
through sustainable practices and reducing pollution.

What makes undersea World Heritage sites unique? These sites are globally recognized
for their importance and are considered valuable areas to protect.