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Day 4 – Q 3.How do tides originate? What role do tides play in maintaining the coastal ecosystem? Discuss.

3. How do tides originate? What role do tides play in maintaining the coastal ecosystem? Discuss.

ज्वार कैसे उत्पन्न होते हैं? तटीय पारिस्थितिकी तंत्र को संतुलित रखने में ज्वार क्या भूमिका निभाते हैं? चर्चा करें।

Introduction:

Tides are great bulges of water caused by the gravity of the Moon and Sun. Attracted by gravity, these bulges move around the Earth’s oceans, causing water levels to rise and fall.

Body:

Combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the Sun and the rotation of Earth cause occurrence of tides in oceans.

Where a section of the earth points towards the moon, then a high tide will occur as gravity pulls the ocean towards the moon. As well as creating the high tide there, the area on the opposite side of the earth, facing away from the moon will also have a high tide at the same time. This occurs as a result of inertia and centrifugal force, as the gravitational pull is weaker here and the ocean bulges out as a result. The areas at 90-degree angle to the moon at this time will experience low tides. As the Earth spins, different areas of the planet face the moon, and this rotation causes the tides to cycle around the planet.

Role played by tides in maintaining coastal ecosystems:

  • Affect reproductive activities of fish and ocean plants: Floating plants and animals ride the tidal currents between the breeding areas and deeper waters.
  • The tides help remove pollutants and circulate nutrients required for survival of ocean plants and animals. Ex: seawater in and out of tidal bays and estuaries.
  • Moderate temperature: The tides and tidal currents mix arctic water that can’t absorb lots of sunlight with warmer tropic water that does. The stirring produces more predictable and habitable climate conditions in coastal areas.
  • Tides play vital role for the growth and formation of mangroves, its canopy and formation of zonation in the mangrove ecosystem and associated diversity.
  • Help maintain mudflats that provide flora and fauna with habitation.

Conclusion:

Thus in addition to benefits to mankind (navigation, energy), tides have very important role in maintaining coastal ecosystem.

Best answer: Suraj sharma

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