Continents and Oceans

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering oceans, continents, continental theories, natural disasters, climate impacts, and key geographical facts from the lecture notes.

Why is Earth called the "Blue Planet," and what percentage of its surface is covered by oceans?

From space, the Earth looks blue because oceans cover about $71\%$ of the Earth's surface, making water more dominant than land.

On maps and globes, what colors are used to represent oceans and continents?

Blue shows the oceans, and brown represents the continents.

Where is freshwater primarily found on Earth?

Freshwater is primarily found in glaciers, rivers, lakes, the atmosphere, and underground as groundwater.

How is the term "sustainably" defined in the notes?

In a way that allows for continual use of a natural resource without depleting it or causing environmental damage.

What terms are used to describe violent storms with heavy rain and strong winds in different regions of the world?

They are called typhoons in the Pacific Ocean region, cyclones in the Indian Ocean region, and hurricanes in America.

Which coastal regions in India are commonly hit by cyclones, and what are four recent cyclones mentioned in the text?

The coastal regions are West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Maharashtra. Cyclones mentioned are Remal (2024), Biparjoy (2023), Mocha (2023), and Fani (2019).

What caused the disaster at the holy Hindu pilgrimage site of Kedarnath in June 2013, and what was the estimated death toll?

It was severely impacted by landslides and flash floods, resulting in an estimated death toll of around $6{,}000$.

What triggered the deadly 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami (Asian Tsunami)?

It was triggered by an earthquake of $9.1$ magnitude off the coast.

Who chairs the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in India?

The Prime Minister.

What crucial roles do oceans play in Earth's atmosphere and climate regulation regarding oxygen, carbon dioxide, and heat?

Oceans produce nearly $50\%$ of the oxygen we breathe, absorb about $25\%$ of carbon dioxide emissions, and take in $90\%$ of the extra heat from emissions.

When does the monsoon season occur in India, and which winds bring the rainfall?

It lasts from June to September, brought by the South-Western monsoon winds in the Indian Ocean, which first enter the state of Kerala.

How did the 16th-century Four Continents Theory divide the Earth?

It divided the Earth into four quadrants: America in the west, Asia in the east, Europe in the north, and Africa in the south.

Which five continents are represented by the rings in the Olympic logo, and which continent is excluded?

The rings represent Asia, Africa, America (North and South), Europe, and Australia. Antarctica is excluded because it is uninhabited.

What single landmass is formed in the Six Continents Theory by combining Europe and Asia?

Eurasia.

List the seven continents in order from largest to smallest according to size.

Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.

What geographic features separate Asia from Europe?

The Ural Mountains in Russia and the Caspian Sea.

Why is the Southern Hemisphere often called the "water hemisphere"?

Because most of the Southern Hemisphere is covered by oceans and seas.

What is the historical origin and UN designation date of World Ocean Day?

It was first proposed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was officially designated by the UN General Assembly on 5 December 2008 to be celebrated on 8 June.

What is the largest island in the world, and what continent is it geographically part of?

Greenland is the largest island in the world and is geographically part of the North American continent (its size matches approximately $10$ Indian states combined).

What are the two major island groups of the Indian Subcontinent, and roughly how many small islands does India possess?

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea; India has more than $1{,}300$ small islands in its territory.

What unique geographic characteristics define the continent of Australia?

It is the smallest continent, the only continent that is a country, surrounded by water on all four sides, and the only country that covers an entire continent.

What proportion of Earth's water reserves are contained in the oceans, and what is "sea level" used for?

Approximately $97\%$ of Earth's water reserves are in the oceans; the average level of water, known as sea level, is used as a reference point for measuring heights and depths.

How is "irrigation" defined in the notes?

Watering the fields to grow crops.