Oceans and Weather
Oceans are the primary source of the Earth’s water cycle.
- Rainfall: Large masses of clouds form over oceans and bring rain to the continents.
- Monsoons: In India, the summer monsoon rains originate in the Indian Ocean. Without these rains, agriculture would suffer.
Natural Disasters
1. Cyclones
Violent storms with extreme rainfall and very strong winds that originate over warm ocean waters. They cause widespread damage to coastal regions.
2. Tsunamis
A Tsunami is a huge and powerful wave generally caused by a strong earthquake or a volcanic eruption at the bottom of the ocean.
Warning
The 2004 Tsunami: On 26 December 2004, a powerful tsunami caused by an earthquake in Indonesia struck 14 countries, including India. More than two lakh people lost their lives.
Disaster Management
To protect lives, countries use Early Warning Systems.
- Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning System: A collaborative network to detect underwater seismic activity.
- NDMA: In India, the National Disaster Management Authority handles disaster responses.