Model Answer The SOFAR (Sound Fixing and Ranging) channel is a naturally occurring layer in the ocean that allows sound to travel vast distances with minimal energy loss. This channel is created due to the interplay of ocean temperature, salinity, and pressure at certain depths. Typically located beRead more
Model Answer
The SOFAR (Sound Fixing and Ranging) channel is a naturally occurring layer in the ocean that allows sound to travel vast distances with minimal energy loss. This channel is created due to the interplay of ocean temperature, salinity, and pressure at certain depths. Typically located between 600 and 1200 meters below the sea surface, the SOFAR channel traps sound waves, enabling them to travel long distances. This phenomenon occurs because sound waves, emitted at specific depths, are refracted back into the channel due to changes in the ocean’s physical properties, creating an optimal environment for sound propagation.
Significance in Marine Ecosystems
- Marine Bioacoustics: The SOFAR channel plays a crucial role in marine bioacoustics, the study of sound in marine environments. It helps researchers understand how marine animals like whales and dolphins use sound to communicate and navigate. For instance, humpback whales’ songs and dolphins’ echolocation abilities rely on the unique acoustics of the SOFAR channel, helping them with mating calls and prey detection.
- Undersea Earthquake Detection: The SOFAR channel is instrumental in detecting sounds from undersea earthquakes, which is vital for monitoring seismic activities and detecting tsunamis. The long-range transmission of sound waves enables early warning systems for natural disasters.
- Climate Change Monitoring: Researchers use the SOFAR channel to track temperature and salinity changes in the ocean, offering valuable data on climate shifts and their impacts on marine ecosystems.
- Protection and Conservation: Understanding sound propagation in the SOFAR channel is essential for designing marine protected areas. Noise pollution, especially from ships and industrial activities, can negatively impact marine species sensitive to sound, like whales and dolphins. By controlling such noise, conservation efforts can be more effective.
Conclusion
The SOFAR channel is not only critical for marine ecosystems but also for scientific, military, and environmental research. As the UN Decade of Ocean Science (2021-2030) focuses on sustainable marine development, studying this channel is key to achieving sustainable ocean conservation (SDG 14).
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Alluvial soil is found in India, in the northern part of India, basically in the foothills of the Himalayas. Alluvial soil is loamy, fertile, and potash-rich soil. Here are the characteristics of alluvial soil: Water retention capacity and loamy soil: The alluvial soil has a high water retention capRead more
Alluvial soil is found in India, in the northern part of India, basically in the foothills of the Himalayas. Alluvial soil is loamy, fertile, and potash-rich soil.
Here are the characteristics of alluvial soil:
Water retention capacity and loamy soil: The alluvial soil has a high water retention capacity to absorb water.
Good for agricultural use and very fertile in nature: Most of the northern area depends on agriculture due to the good fertile soil available in this area.
Formed by the deposition of rivers and wind: From the Himalayas, the hill particles come and deposit in the foothills due to deposition and weathering.
Composition: Alluvial soil is generally in the form of fine particles of sand, silt, etc, with a high quantity of potash.
Subtypes:
Bhabar: Coarse sand and gravel deposited by rivers. Generally, big particles as compared to other particles. Found in the foothills of the Himalayas.
See lessTerai: Near the foothills and lower than Bhabar with finer alluvial deposits.
Bhangar: The older alluvial soil due to the deposition of rivers; it is less fertile as compared to Khadar soil.
Khadar: The newer and more fertile soil, changes over time, and is found in floodplains of rivers and nearby the delta region.