Relief, density and salinity of the Indian Ocean. Fauna and flora

The Indian Ocean is one of the three largest reservoirs of the planet Earth. It extends from the coast of Antarctica to the Asian countries. It lies between Africa and Australia. Borders with the waters of the Pacific and the Atlantic. Its area exceeds 70,000 square kilometers, and the average depth reaches 4,000 meters.

The relief of the submarine bed

The geography of the Indian Ocean is characterized by a minimum number of seas. Islands are also few. The most famous of them are Sri Lanka, Maldives, Andaman and Madagascar. The southern part of the coastline is almost indistinct, which can not be said about the northern relief. The width of the shelf does not exceed one hundred kilometers. The angle of the continental slope is steep and varies from 10 to 30 °.

The Indian Ocean is rich in deposits of gas and oil, monazite sands, chromium ore, copper and other metals. Its bottom is composed of thalassocrats. They are responsible for tectonic stability. On the periphery of the bed are placed continental platforms.

Hydrology

The salinity of the Indian Ocean is due to the circulation of surface currents. And in its northern zone the movement of water is monsoon. Since June, the eastern and northern currents predominate. In winter, western and southern. In mid-January, an equatorial movement is emerging on its territory. Cyclonal circulation and cold seams are also distinguished.

The temperature and salinity of the Indian Ocean are inextricably linked. The average water heating is +20 ° С. The maximum values exceed +30 ° С. They are celebrated in the second half of May. At the equator, the current warms up to +28 ° C. Along the coast of Africa other indications are recorded - around +23 ° C. Meteorologists note that in the subtropics water is hotter at 5 ° C than in the eastern part. The main energy costs fall on the process of evaporation of moisture, others - on heat exchange with layers of the atmosphere.

The salinity of the Indian Ocean is directly dependent on the balance of the volume of evaporation of moisture from the surface and runoff from the mainland. If you believe statistics, then within one year, these values are 1 380 and 1 000 millimeters, respectively. Replenish the reserve of water of the river. Originating a few tens of thousands of kilometers from the coast, they slowly wave their waves to complete the path in the bottomless abyss.

The salinity of the Indian Ocean in ppm is 34.8 . It is customary to refer the natural channels to the Ganges and Limpopo channels. And also the currents of Brahmaputra and Zambezi. They are the natural desalination of the coastal zones of the African and Eurasian continents.

The maximum salinity of the Indian Ocean in promill is noted in the region of the Arabian Peninsula. We are talking about the Red and Arabian seas, the Persian Gulf. And here, for example, in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal this parameter is already somewhat smaller. The region that lies south of 40 ° is considered the most desolate. Here the minimum salinity of the Indian Ocean. In percent, it is only 33 units.

Main settings

The density of water is also varied. In the west, its value tends to 1,024. In the Nordic latitudes it is equal to 1,027. Its minimum reaches its value in the Bay of Bengal and in the northeastern part. Enrichment with oxygen also occurs unevenly. In the north it is 4.5 milliliters, and in the south it is 8, which again indicates that the salinity of the Indian Ocean is high.

The color of water is also connected with it. At depth, it is usually dark blue, almost black. Closer to the Antarctic becomes blue. Near the coast acquires a characteristic greenish shade. As for periods of low tide, their strength is not as significant as in other oceans, and the process itself takes place in a semi-diurnal regime.

In the north there are ice blocks. In February they migrate and reach 68 ° south latitude. At the end of summer, their path is much shorter. Only occasionally icebergs manage to overcome 55 °.

Vertical Circulation

The deep structure and salinity of the Indian Ocean are caused by currents. They originate in the Antarctic and subtropical zones. The first are called the bottom, and the latter are called subsurface. There are also intermediate vortices. Deep streams come from the Atlantic and partly from the water area of the Red Sea.

So, the distribution of the salinity of the waters of the Indian Ocean is as follows:

• Subtropical seams - 35 ‰ ;
• Antarctic waters - 34 ;
• Atlantic currents - 34.68 ;
• The continental currents - 34.77 .

Fauna

In shallow water a huge number of varieties of corals are recorded, which together create amazing natural structures. Atolls and even whole islands are the result of their work. In the labyrinths of such "buildings" are found crabs and worms, sponges, starfish, hedgehogs and colorful fishes.

In the muddy areas you can find a jumper. This fish, which for a long time may not be in the aquatic environment, but in the open airspace. Invertebrate layers of the ocean are inhabited by invertebrates, anchovies, sharks, snakes, tuna, whales, dugongs. Typical representatives of birds in the Indian Ocean are frigates and snow-white albatrosses. Penguins live on the coast.

Flora

The vegetative world of the bottom surface is formed by reddish, red, diatomaceous and calcareous algae. These include fucus, macrocystis, laminaria. For the so-called flowering of water meet the blue-green organisms.

Fishing

Fishing is an advantage in the coastal waters of the Indian Ocean. Its share hardly exceeds 5% of total production. Near Antarctica, the fishery targets whales.

In some areas of Australia, pearls are collected. The Persian basin boasts abundant oil deposits. In other regions, iron ore and manganese ore are mined. Somewhere there are diamonds.