Topic: Salient features of world’s physical geography.
1. How does salinity vary as the ocean gets deeper and wider? Discuss the factors that determine the concentration of salts in the ocean water. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Easy
Reference: Insights on India
Why the question:
The question is part of the static syllabus of General studies paper – 1 and mentioned as part of Mission-2023 Secure timetable.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about to factors which determine the salinity of the oceans and horizontal, vertical regional distributions of Salinity.
Directive word:
Discuss – This is an all-encompassing directive – you must debate on paper by going through the details of the issues concerned by examining each one of them. You must give reasons for both for and against arguments.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Explain what is ocean salinity.
Body:
First, write about the various factors that determine the salinity of the oceans – Evaporation, Freshwater flow influx, temperature, density, Ocean Currents, Precipitation, Atmospheric pressure and Wind direction. Give examples from across the world.
Next, write about the horizontal distributions of Salinity – salinity decreases from equator towards the poles, highest salinity is observed between 20° N and 40° N etc and the reasons for it.
Next, write about vertical distributions of Salinity – increases with increasing depth, draw a small diagram to show the same.
Conclusion:
Conclude by summarising the above.
