CBSE Class 7 Geography Notes Chapter 5 - Water

Water is one of the most important substances on earth. All plants and animals must have water to survive. If there were no water, there would be no life on earth. Water that is safe for drinking is called potable water. There are various sources from where we can collect water. To know more about water, its distribution, ocean circulation, tides, waves, and ocean currents, go through CBSE Class 7 Geography notes of Chapter 5 -Water. These notes comprise all the concepts covered in the chapter in a well-structured manner.

CBSE Notes Class 7 Geography Chapter 5 – Water

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Overview

Water Cycle: The process by which water continually changes its form and circulates between oceans, atmosphere and land is known as the water cycle.

The major sources of freshwater are the rivers, ponds, springs and glaciers. The ocean bodies and the seas contain salty water. Most of the salt is sodium chloride, or the common table salt that we eat.

To know about Condensation, watch the below video

Distribution of Water Bodies

Three-fourths of the earth’s surface is covered by water. Water is absolutely essential for survival. Water alone can quench our thirst when we are thirsty.

Ocean Circulation

The movements that occur in oceans can be broadly categorised as waves, tides and currents.

Waves

When the water on the surface of the ocean rises and falls alternately, they are called waves. During a storm, the winds blowing at very high-speed form huge waves. These may cause tremendous destruction. An earthquake, a volcanic eruption or underwater landslides can shift large amounts of ocean water. As a result, a huge tidal wave called a tsunami is formed.

Tides

The rhythmic rise and fall of ocean water twice a day is called a tide. It is high tide when water covers much of the shore by rising to its highest level. It is low tide when waterfalls to its lowest level and recedes from the shore.

The strong gravitational pull exerted by the sun and the moon on the earth’s surface cause the tides. During the full moon and new moon days, the sun, the moon and the earth are in the same line, and the tides are highest. These tides are called spring tides.

But when the moon is in its first and last quarter, the ocean waters get drawn in diagonally opposite directions by the gravitational pull of the sun and moon, resulting in low tides. These tides are called neap tides.

Ocean Currents

Ocean currents are streams of water flowing constantly on the ocean surface in definite directions. The ocean currents may be warm or cold. The warm ocean currents originate near the equator and move towards the poles. The cold currents carry water from polar or higher latitudes to tropical or lower latitudes.

Warm currents bring about warm temperatures over the land surface. The areas where the warm and cold currents meet provide the best fishing grounds in the world. Seas around Japan and the eastern coast of North America are such examples. The areas where warm and cold currents meet experience foggy weather, making it difficult for navigation.