RBSE Solutions for Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Hydrological Cycle and Distribution of Water Bodies
RBSE Solutions for Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Hydrological Cycle and Distribution of Water Bodies
Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Hydrological Cycle and Distribution of Water Bodies
RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Text Book Questions
RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
The average amount of water in the atmosphere is:
(a) 1%
(b) 2%
(c) 3%
(d) 4%
Answer:
(a) 1%
Question 2.
Cyclic stages of water occurring in different forms is called:
(a) Evaporation
(b) Condensation
(c) Hydro – logical Cycle
(d) Precipitation
Answer:
(c) Hydro – logical Cycle
Question 3.
The difference in the nature of water bodies is made clear by:
(a) salinity
(b) density
(c) temperature
(d) depth
Answer:
(b) density
Question 4.
What percentage of the water is present in the form of pure water?
(a) 1.6
(b) 2.6
(c) 3.6
(d) 4.6
Answer:
(b) 2.6
Question 5.
Between which latitudes are the central water bodies located?
(a) 25 degree to 35 degree
(b) 35 degree to 45 degree
(c) 35 degree to 42 degree
(d) 32 degree to 45 degree
Answer:
(c) 35 degree to 42 degree
RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
Into how many parts are the water bodies classified?
Answer:
The water bodies are classified mainly into four parts:
- Oceans, refractory seas, bays located on the banks of continents.
- Seas and lakes located on the continents.
Question 2.
What is the main process of the hydro – logical cycle?
Answer:
Accumulation of water in the atmosphere by its conversion into vapor is an extremely important process. The change in climate depends on this process.
Question 3.
What percentage of the water available on the earth is circulated in the hydro – logical cycle every year?
Answer:
Every year, only 1% of the water available on the earth is circulated in the hydro – logical cycle.
Question 4.
What are the main stages of the hydro – logical cycle?
Answer:
There are the three main stages of the hydro – logical cycle:
- Evaporation and Transpiration
- Precipitation
- Air Circulation
Question 5.
Where is the maximum depth of the central water bodies found?
Answer:
The maximum depth of the central water bodies is found at 900 m in Sargasso Sea.
RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What is the Hydro – logical Cycle?
Answer:
Water reaches to the atmosphere in the form of water vapor through the process of evaporation and transpiration from the sea, lakes, rivers, terrestrial part and plants, etc. and under seasonal conditions, this water vapor forms clouds through condensation and it again – reaches to the hydrosphere and lithosphere in the form of rainfall.
Thus, in the hydro – logical cycle, the regular cyclic arrangement of water in the hydrosphere, atmosphere and lithosphere is included. In this, the movement of water and its conversion into gaseous, liquid and solid states are included. The cyclic stages of water occurring in different forms are collectively called the Hydro – logical Cycle.
Question 2.
Explain the main stages of the hydro – logical cycle.
Answer:
The following three main stages of the hydro – logical cycle are found:
1. Evaporation and Transpiration:
Water reaches to the atmosphere from the earth’s surface through them.
2. Precipitation:
Water reaches back to the earth’s surface from the atmosphere through it.
3. Air Circulation:
Winds and weather system are included in this, through which the circulation of water from one place to another place in the atmosphere is possible.
Question 3.
Which factors influence the structure of hydro – logical cycle?
Answer:
The condition of insolation, amount of evaporation, air circulation, rivers, etc. are the factors that affect the structure of hydro – logical cycle.
Question 4.
Which factors affect the structure of water bodies?
Answer:
The following factors affect the structure of water bodies:
1. Latitudinal Distance:
On moving from the equator towards the poles, water bodies become cool from hot.
2. Rainfall or Snowfall:
The nature of water bodies changes by the rainfall or snowfall.
3. Direction of Permanent Winds:
Blowing of permanent winds is the controller of the nature to water bodies.
4. Sinking or Divergence of Water:
Also due to the divergence or changes occurring in water, the water bodies undergo changes in their original nature.
5. Oceanic Currents:
The oceanic currents, according to their nature, bring about changes in the nature of water bodies.
6. Oceanic Vertex:
The velocity, nature and direction of water bodies also change due to the vertexes occurring in the oceanic regions.
Question 5.
Which are known as the central water bodies?
Answer:
The water bodies located between 35 degree to 42 degree northern and southern latitudes in the regions of winter sub-tropical convergence are called the central water bodies. These water bodies are usually found between the equator and poles. In these water bodies, the amount of temperature and salinity on the surface decreases in the direction of high latitudes, but the density increases. The thickness of these water bodies is not much. Their maximum depth is found at 900 meters in Sargasso Sea.
RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Essay Type Questions
Question 1.
Explaining the hydro – logical cycle and water bodies, describe the importance of hydro – logical cycle in the nature.
Answer:
Hydro – logical Cycle:
It is also called the Water Cycle. In this, the movement of water and its conversion into gaseous, liquid and solid states are included. Its main process is condensation through which the rainfall occurs. Storage and flow of underground water and, evaporation on earth and atmospheric humidity are included.
Thus, in the hydro – logical cycle, the regular cyclic system of water in the hydrosphere, atmosphere and lithosphere is included. The cyclic stages of water occurring in different forms are called the hydro – logical cycle.
There are mainly three stages of the hydro – logical cycle:
Evaporation and transpiration, precipitation and air circulation. The hydro – logical cycle passes through these three stages. This cyclic system of water is presented by the of following fig:
Water bodies:
Area of the entire earth is 50.995 million sq. km. in which the hydrosphere is extended on 36.106 million sq. km. area and the lithosphere on 14.889 million sq. km. Oceans which are the First Order Relief are vast reservoirs of water. As the study of air – mass has an important place in climatology, in the same way, water bodies have a special place in oceanography.
Under the water bodies of the world, in addition to the vast oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic oceans), refractory seas like Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, bays located on the shores of continents and the seas and lakes located on the continents are included. The distribution of area and volume of these water bodies found in the world are being presented through the following table:
| Water Body | Percentage of Area | Percentage of Volume |
| Ocean | 88.91 | 96.46 |
| Refractory Sea | 0.63 | 0.03 |
| Bays located on the banks of continents | 2.29 | 0.52 |
| Seas and lakes located on the continents | 8.17 | 2.99 |
Importance of Hydro – logical Cycle in Nature:
Accumulation of water in the atmosphere by its conversion into vapor is an extremely important process, on which the change in climate depends. Thus, the hydro – logical cycle is important on the earth’s surface for many biological processes, because water balance will be disturbed without water circulation, by which the existence life will be impossible.
In nature, hydro – logical cycle is the basis of life for human, vegetation, and all the other living beings. The average amount of water in the atmosphere is not more than an equivalent of 1 inch or 2.5 cm of rainfall.
Question 2.
Explain the meaning and distribution of the water bodies.
Or
Describe the major oceanic water bodies found in the world.
Answer:
Water bodies occupy an important place in oceanography. The oceanic condition with a certain temperature, salinity and density is recognized usually in the form of a certain water body. The oceans, refractory seas, bays and lakes are included in the water bodies. In the distribution of water bodies found in the oceanic regions, the following water bodies are the major ones:
- Antarctica Coastal water body.
- North Atlantic Coastal water body.
- Antarctica Intermediate water body.
- North Pacific Intermediate water body.
- Central water body.
- Equatorial water body.
The description of all these water bodies is as follows:
1. Antarctica Coastal water body:
This water body is found in the south of the Indian ocean and the Atlantic Ocean near the Antarctica continent. Its extensive form is found in the Wad – dell Sea. The amount of salinity increases due to the increase in freezing point of water near the continental shelf. In this part, the salinity of water is 34.62 %o, temperature is -1.9 degree Celsius and density is 27.89.
The density of water increases by attaining the ice point and it sits in the bottom, because the water of the proximate sea is relatively warm, in which the salinity is 34.68 %o , temperature is 0.5 degree Celsius and density is 27.84. This is a particular type of water which spreads in the bottom and by the mixture it takes the form of a specific water body.
2. North Atlantic Coastal water body:
This water body is found between Labrador Sea and Iceland and Southern Greenland. Here, the warm and saline water of the North Atlantic Oceanic stream cools down on coming in contact with the Eastern Greenland stream and its density increases. The convergence of this water occurs at more than 1000 meters depth. At that point, its density is 27.88, salinity is 34.90 % and temperature is between 2.8 degree Celsius to 3.3 degree Celsius.
3. Antarctica Intermediate water body:
This is originated by Antarctica bending area. Its origin is all around the Antarctica continent. The actual cause of the origin is not known, but it is important to note that its salinity 33.8 %, temperature 2.2 degree Celsius and density 27.0 is the same at all the places, and the zone of the fast Westerlies Winds is an area of its influence.
4. North Pacific Intermediate water body:
This water body is originated towards the north – east near 40 degree north latitude in the Pacific Ocean. The lack of oxygen is found in its water. Due to the spread in the southern and western direction, the other type of water is also included in half of this region. This is the reason, the properties of this water body are not alike even after converging.
5. Central water body:
These water bodies are found between 35 degree to 42 degree northern and southern latitudes in the regions of winter sub – tropical convergence. These water bodies are usually found between the equator and poles. In these water bodies, the amount of temperature and salinity on the surface decreases in the direction of high latitudes, but the density increases, thickness of these water bodies is not much.
Their maximum depth is found at 900 m in the Sargasso Sea. The relation of the temperature and salinity of this water body located in the Pacific Ocean the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean is not equal. In these water bodies, the temperature ranges from -0.8 degree Celsius to -1.2 degree Celsius and the amount of salinity ranges from 34.89 to 34.92%.
6. Equatorial water body:
This water body is located along the equatorial line in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Due to the special shape of the Atlantic Ocean, this water body is not at all found in this ocean. More hot water is found here and the thickness of water body is between 100 and 200 meters. The temperature and salinity of water changes with the climatic change.
Question 3.
Explain the differences found between the Central water bodies and the Equatorial water bodies.
Answer:
Like the air – masses prevalent in the atmosphere, there are many water bodies found in the hydrosphere, which have been classified by the geographers by considering the temperature and salinity as the basis. Although, it is not necessary that the temperature and salinity are equal in any water body, it is considered important to express the nature of water bodies through the thermal salinity diagram.
Central Water Body:
The water bodies which are found between 35 degree to 42 degree Northern and Southern latitudes in the regions of winter sub – tropical convergence are called the central water bodies.
Equatorial Water Body:
These water bodies are located along the equatorial line in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. The lack of these water bodies is found in the equatorial regions of the Atlantic Ocean.
The following differences are found between the central water body and the Equatorial water body:
| Central Water Body | Equatorial Water Body |
| 1. This water body is originated by convergent water. | 1. This water body is originated by the mixture of half terrestrial water. |
| 2. This water body is found between 35° to 42° latitudes in both the hemispheres. | 2. This water body is found in the equatorial regions of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. |
| 3. This water body is found in the three vast oceans-the Indian, the Pacific and the Atlantic. | 3. Due to the special shape of the Atlantic Ocean, this water body is not found in it. |
| 4. In these water bodies, the temperature and salinity on the surface decreases in the direction of high latitudes. | 4. In these water bodies, the temperature and salinity of water changes with the climatic change. |
| 5. In the central water bodies, the temperature ranges from -0.8 centigrade to -1.2 centigrade and the amount of salinity ranges from 34.89 to 34.92 per thousand grams. | 5. In the equatorial water bodies, the average temperature is 32 centigrade and the average of salinity is about 35 per thousand grams. |
| 6. The average thickness of these water bodies is between 200 and 300 meters. Maximum depth of 900 m is found at sargasso sea. | 6. The average thickness of these water bodies is between 100 and 200 meters. |
| 7. Central water bodies come in contact with the nearby partially opened seas, whose properties differ greatly. | 7. The contact of the equatorial water bodies with the nearby partially opened seas is very less. |
RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Other Important Questions
RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Multiple Choice Questions
Question 1.
The state of water is:
(a) Gaseous
(b) Liquid
(c) Solid
(d) All of these
Answer:
(d) All of these
Question 2.
Where is the less storage of water found?
(a) in atmosphere
(b) in oceans
(c) in ice caps
(d) in rocks
Answer:
(a) in atmosphere
Question 3.
By which process does the water present in atmosphere reach back to the earth’s surface?
(a) evaporation
(b) precipitation
(c) air circulation
(d) none of these
Answer:
(b) precipitation
Question 4.
What per cent part of the volume of water bodies is found in the oceans?
(a) 88.91%
(b) 8.17 %
(c) 96.46 %
(d) 2.29%
Answer:
(c) 96.46 %
Question 5.
The expanse of the hydrosphere is:
(a) 50.99 million sq. km.
(b) 36.10 million sq. km.
(c) 14.88 million sq. km.
(d) 19.50 million sq. km.
Answer:
(b) 36.10 million sq. km.
Question 6.
Who was the first to explain about the expansion of the hydrosphere and lithosphere?
(a) Wagner
(b) Chamberlin
(c) Dr. Long
(d) Davis
Answer:
(c) Dr. Long
Question 7.
According to the new discoveries, the ratio of water and land is:
(a) 60 : 40
(b) 50 : 50
(c) 70.8 : 29.2
(d) 29.5 : 70.5
Answer:
(c) 70.8 : 29.2
Question 8.
In which ocean is the Equatorial water body not found?
(a) Pacific Ocean
(b) Atlantic Ocean
(c) Indian Ocean
(d) All of these
Answer:
(b) Atlantic Ocean
Matching Type Questions
Question A.
Match the contents of column A with that of column B:
| Column A (Water Body) | Column B (Percentage of the area of water body) |
| (i) Ocean | (a) 0.63 |
| (ii) Refractory Sea | (b) 2.29 |
| (iii) Bays located on the banks of continents | (c) 8.17 |
| (iv) Spas and lakes on the continents | (d) 88.91 |
Answers:
- (d)
- (a)
- (b)
- (c)
Question B.
| Column A (Name of Oceanic Water Body) | Column B (Salinity) | |
| (i) Antarctica Coastal water body | (a) 34.9 % | |
| (ii) North Atlantic Coastal water body | (b) 34.68 % | |
| (iii) Antarctica Intermediate water body | (c) 34.90 % | |
| (iv) Central water body | (d) 33.8% | |
Answers:
- (b)
- (c)
- (d)
- (a)
RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Very Short Answer Type Questions
Question 1.
What does the term Condensation mean?
Answer:
Condensation is the process of a substance in a gaseous state transforming into a liquid state. This change is caused by the change in pressure and temperature of the substance.
Question 2.
What does the term Water Circulation mean?
Answer:
The way the air blows from one place to another place, in the same way, the water circulates from one place to another place, which is called water circulation.
Question 3.
Why is the role of rivers important in the hydro – logical cycle?
Answer:
The role of rivers is important in the hydro – logical cycle because it is through the rivers that, water moves from the land to the seas and oceans.
Question 4.
Which provides movement to the water vapor?
Answer:
Winds blowing from the oceans to the land provide movement to the water vapor.
Question 5.
What does the term evaporation mean?
Answer:
Evaporation is the process by which a substance changes from its liquid form to a vapor state. Insolation has an important role in this process.
Question 6.
What does the term precipitation mean?
Answer:
After the process of condensation, the falling of water on the earth in the liquid or solid form due to the gravitational force is called the precipitation.
Question 7.
What does the term Surface Water mean?
Answer:
Accumulated water in the form of the rivers, canals, lakes, ponds, seas, etc. on the upper part of the earth’s surface is called surface water.
Question 8.
How variation is found in the base of the oceans and continents?
Answer:
The base of the oceans is in the Southern hemisphere, while the head is in the North. On the other hand, the base of the continents is in the North, while the head is towards the South.
Question 9.
How can we demarcate the water bodies?
Answer:
The demarcation of water bodies is done by gathering information regarding the nature of various water bodies and by inspecting their qualities of temperature and salinity.
Question 10.
Why does the speed of currents get intense near the Equator?
Answer:
In the mid latitudes near the Equator, the layer on surface of the sea has more temperature, less salinity and less density, by which the speed of currents gets intense.
Question 11.
On which basis are the water bodies classified?
Answer:
Most of the scholars have classified the water bodies on the basis of their temperature and salinity.
Question 12.
Where is the Antarctica Coastal water body found?
Answer:
This water body is found in the south of the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean near the Antarctica continent. Its extensive form is found in the Weddell Sea.
Question 13.
Where is the North Atlantic Coastal water body found?
Answer:
This water body is found among Labrador Sea and Iceland and Southern Greenland.
Question 14.
Where has the North Pacific Intermediate water body originated?
Answer:
This water body has originated towards the north – east near 40 degree northern latitude in the North Pacific Ocean.
Question 15.
Where are the Central water bodies found?
Answer:
These water bodies are found between 35 degree to 42 degree northern and southern latitudes in the regions of winter sub-tropical convergence.
Question 16.
Where is the Equatorial water body found?
Answer:
Equatorial water body is located along the equatorial line in the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. Due to the special shape of the Atlantic Ocean, this water body is not found in Atlantic ocean.
RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Short Answer Type Questions (SA-I)
Question 1.
How does the water body reach back to the hydrosphere and lithosphere?
Answer:
Storage of water on the earth’s surface is found mainly in the seas, lakes, rivers, etc. Evaporation occurs by the effect of insolation on this water. By this process of evaporation and transpiration, the surface water reaches to the atmosphere.
The process of condensation occurs due to the changing seasonal conditions and reduction of temperature in the atmosphere. By this process of condensation, the clouds form and as a result of the rainfall through these clouds, the water body reaches back to the hydrosphere and lithosphere.
Question 2.
Explain the circulation of water in the hydro – logical cycle.
Answer:
In the hydro – logical cycle, the circulation of water takes place independently also in different spheres. In this, translocation of moisture from one place to another place by vertical and horizontal circulation of air in the atmosphere, water circulation by sea currents in the hydrosphere, and from the lithosphere the water flows towards the seas through the rivers and glaciers.
In the same way, it reaches in vaporized form from the soil and by transpiration from the plants through the process of palpitation into the surface. Only 1 % of the water available on the earth circulates in the hydro – logical cycle every year. A large part of the water involved in hydro – logical cycle is the pure water.
Question 3.
Explain the nature of water bodies of the world.
Answer:
Water bodies found in the world exhibit diversity. Under the water bodies of the world, in addition to the vast oceans (Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and Arctic Ocean), refractory seas like Mediterranean Sea, Red Sea, etc. the bays located on the banks of continents like Caspian Sea, Dead Sea, Great lakes of America, Baikal, Balkhash, etc. are included. Area and volume-related variations are seen in the nature of all these water bodies.
Question 4.
Explain the Antarctica Coastal water body.
Answer:
Antarctica Coastal water body:
This water body is found in the south of the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean near the Antarctica continent. Its extensive form is found in the Wad – dell Sea. The amount of salinity increases due to the increase in freezing point of water near the continental shelf. In this part, the salinity of water is 34.62%o, temperature is -1.9 degree Celsius and density is 27:89.
The density of water increases by attaining the ice point and it sits in the bottom, because the water of the proximate sea is relatively warm, in which the salinity is 34.68%o, temperature is 0.5 degree Celsius and density is 27.84. This is a particular type of water which spreads in the bottom and by the mixture it takes the form of a specific water body.
RBSE Class 11 Physical Geography Chapter 17 Short Answer Type Questions (SA-II)
Question 1.
Explain the mechanism of hydro – logical cycle.
Answer:
Conversion of water into vapor and its accumulation in the atmosphere is an extremely important process on which the change of climate is dependent. There are many such agents among the hydro – logical cycle operating on the earth which affect the movement of water. Due to the energy received from the sun, the water of oceans, by converting into the form of vapor, reaches the atmosphere.
Winds blowing from the oceans towards the land provide the motion to this water vapor and trans – locate it from one place to another place. By this, the water vapor condenses and rainfall occurs on the earth’s surface. Water from the rain flows on the earth’s surface in the form of rivers and channels and it eventually reaches the seas.
In this way, some part of this water from the rain reduces by the vegetations through the process of transpiration, and some water again reaches the atmosphere through the rivers, lakes, ponds, etc. by the process of the evaporation.
Question 2.
Explain the distribution of land and water found on the earth’s surface.
Answer:
Area of the entire earth is 50.995 million sq. km., out of which the hydrosphere is extended on 36.106 million sq. km. area and the lithosphere on 14.889 million sq. km. In relation to the expansion of the lithosphere and hydrosphere, Dr. Long, for the first time in the year 1742, determined the ratio of land and water on the earth to be 1 : 2.81, that is, 26% and 74%, while, Wagner considered the expansion of land to be 28.3 % of the entire earth and expansion of water to be 71.7%.
Based on the explorations done by scientists in polar regions with the help of new instruments, the ratio of land and water is determined to be 1: 2.43, that is, 29.2 % and 70.8 %. It is acknowledged from these explorations that 43 % water of the entire hydrosphere is located in the Northern hemisphere and 57 % water is located in the Southern hemisphere.
Question 3.
What type of situation will be visible if we create the two imaginary hemispheres on the earth?
Answer:
To make the distribution of land and water more clear, if we create the two imaginary hemispheres on the earth, then the following situation will be visible:
1. To present the lithosphere, create a imaginary hemisphere by considering the mouth of the Loire River on the coast of France as the Center and the distance from this center to Singapore as the radius, then the expansion of land is found on 47.3 % part and the water on 52.7 % part of this hemisphere.
2. To present the hydrosphere, create a imaginary hemisphere by considering the south-eastern part of New Zealand as the Center and the distance from this center to the north-eastern coast of Sumatra as the radius, then the expansion of water is found on 90.5 % and the land only on 9.5 % part of this hemisphere.
Question 4.
How does the distribution of water bodies shows diversities? Explain.
Answer:
The classification of water bodies is presented by most of the scholars by considering the temperature and salinity as the basis. In a water body, it is necessary that uniformity temperature and salinity should be found in the maximum part of it. The water bodies with similar temperature, salinity and density flow in different oceanic regions.
But a significant variation is found in the water bodies of the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Equatorial water body is not found in the Atlantic Ocean. The expansion of the Equatorial Pacific water body is more in the western regions of the North and the South America. In the South Pacific Ocean, the two high air pressure areas are present in the winter. Similarly, there is a large difference in the central water body of the North Pacific Ocean and the North Atlantic Ocean.
The Complete Educational Website