We explain what the Indian Ocean is, where it is located and what its extension is. Also, what are its characteristics, its ocean currents and more.
What is the Indian Ocean?
The Indian Ocean is one of the five oceans of the world and It spans four continents: Africa, Asia, Antarctica and Oceania.. It has an area of approximately 70 million square kilometers, making it the third largest ocean on the planet, after the Pacific and the Atlantic.
Its maximum length from east to west is about 10,000 kilometersand from north to south, 7,000 kilometers. The waters of the Indian Ocean are connected to other bodies of water, such as the Red Sea – through the Strait of Bab el-Mandeb – and the Persian Gulf – through the Strait of Hormuz.
On its ocean floor, there are numerous underwater volcanic chains and also the Sunda Trench, which is the deepest point in the Indian Ocean and one of the deepest ocean trenches in the world.
The Indian Ocean plays a crucial role in the global economy. It is an important transportation route for international trade and has some of the busiest shipping routes in the world. In addition, its waters are rich in natural resources such as oil and gas. Likewise, fishing and tourism are very important economic activities for many coastal countries.
Features of the Indian Ocean
The main characteristics of the Indian Ocean are:
- It covers approximately 20% of the Earth’s surface.
- It is the third largest ocean on the planet.
- It has an approximate area of 70 million square kilometers.
- It began to form 200 million years ago.
- It houses very important fishing and oil resources.
- Monsoon winds are one of its main climatic characteristics.
- Chemical and plastic pollution is one of its main environmental problems.
The most important rivers that flow into the Indian Ocean are the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, the Indus and the Zambezi.
Formation of the Indian Ocean
During the Mesozoic era, About 200 million years ago, the separation of the continents beganwhich until then formed a single supercontinent called Pangea. The breakup of Gondwana, a subdivision of Pangea, led to the separation of tectonic plates that eventually became Africa, South America, Antarctica, Australia and India.
Approximately 100 million years ago, The Indian plate began to move northward, driven by the spreading of the Indian Ocean floor. This led to the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate. This collision formed the Himalayan mountain range and established the limits of the Indian Ocean.
Marine currents of the Indian Ocean
Temperature differences in the water favor the formation of marine currents, which are flows of moving water within the oceans. The main marine currents that circulate through the Indian Ocean are:
Cold current:
- Western Australian Current. It moves from Antarctica northward along the western coast of Australia.
Warm currents:
- Agulhas Current. It flows from north to south along the eastern coast of Africa, between this continent and the island of Madagascar.
- Mozambique Current. It is moving south along the eastern coast of Madagascar.
- North Equatorial Current. It flows from east to west between the parallels of 10° and 15° north latitude.
- South Equatorial Current. It flows from east to west between the parallels of 10° and 15° south latitude.
Flora and fauna of the Indian Ocean
The flora of the Indian Ocean is characterized by the presence of phytoplankton and seaweed. These organisms are the base of the marine food chain and are vital for the production of oxygen and the capture of carbon dioxide through their photosynthesis.
The Indian Ocean is also home to a wide variety of faunawhich includes the leatherback turtle, the largest in the world and the only sea turtle without a hard shell. Large predators are also found, such as the tiger shark and swordfish; cetaceans, such as dolphins and whales, and important coral reefs, especially near the Seychelles Islands and the Maldives Islands.
Indian Ocean Climate
The climate of the Indian Ocean is characterized by the presence of monsoon winds, which are seasonal winds, that is, they change their direction with the change of seasons. It is a climatic phenomenon that influences the temperatures and precipitation of extensive continental regions, and the daily lives of billions of people.
The phenomenon of monsoon winds is due to the difference in temperature between the land and the Indian Ocean. There are two types of monsoon winds:
- The summer monsoon. During the summer, the land warms faster than the sea, causing a low pressure center to form on the continent that draws moist winds from the ocean. This results in South Asia having very hot and rainy summers.
- The winter monsoon. During winter, the land cools faster than the sea, causing the formation of a low pressure center in the ocean that attracts dry winds, so moist winds stop entering the continent. This results in South Asia having cold winters with virtually no precipitation.
Natural resources of the Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is home to a diversity of fish, shellfish and crustacean species that are essential for fishing activity, aquaculture and the economy of many coastal countries. Some of the most sought after species are tuna, shrimp, squid and cod.
The Indian Ocean is also rich in energy resources, in particular oil and gas. Explorations and drilling in search of these resources are carried out on the underwater platforms of nearby countries. Furthermore, the seabed contains strategic mineral depositssuch as manganese, cobalt and zinc, whose exploitation is also very important for the region.
Indian Ocean Pollution
The Indian Ocean, like other oceans in the world, faces environmental problems related to chemical pollution, plastic pollution and hydrocarbon extraction. These problems represent a threat to marine biodiversity, human health and the economy of coastal regions.
- The chemical contamination It comes from various sources, such as agriculture, industry, shipping and waste discharge. Some of the most common pollutants include heavy metals, toxic chemicals, and untreated sewage discharged from coastal cities.
- The plastic pollution It is linked to single-use plastics, such as bottles, bags and containers, that accumulate in the waters and on the beaches of the region. These plastics take thousands of years to degrade, which significantly affects marine biodiversity.
- The hydrocarbon extraction It is an activity that affects the ocean due to the pollution generated by ocean platforms and oil spills. This type of pollution mainly harms the areas near the coasts, where the main hydrocarbon deposits are located.
Tourism in the Indian Ocean
In the Indian Ocean There are a large number of islands that are used for tourismthanks to its white sand beaches and the warm, transparent water that surrounds them. Among the most chosen are the Maldives and the Seychelles islands. These islands are also often part of the regular tours of the most luxurious cruise ships in the world.
The 2004 tsunami
On December 26, 2004, an underwater earthquake measuring 9.1 on the Richter scale originated in the Indian Ocean, near the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. This earthquake generated a tsunami that spread at high speed through the waters of the Indian Ocean and affected the coasts of Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India and Somalia.. The speed and size of the waves were of such magnitude that they caused the death of more than 275,000 people, in addition to enormous damage to coastal infrastructure and million-dollar economic losses.
Historical importance of the Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean has been part of global trade routes for centuries. Some of them were:
- spice route. During the Middle Ages and early modern times, the sea routes of the Indian Ocean were essential for the spice trade. Valuable resources such as pepper, cloves and cinnamon were transported from Asia to Europe through the Indian Ocean.
- Trade in goods. In addition to spices, the Indian Ocean was essential for the trade of other goods, such as silk, porcelain, ivory, cotton, gold and precious stones. These goods were exchanged along the maritime trade routes between the different cultures and civilizations that bordered the Indian Ocean.
- Colonial routes. During the era of European exploration and colonization, in the 15th and 16th centuries, colonial powers established ports and colonies along the coasts of the Indian Ocean. These colonies served as strategic bases for the control of trade routes and facilitated the exchange of goods between Europe, Africa and Asia.
References
- Acosta, MB (2022). Monsoons: what they are, types and consequences. EcologyGreen. https://www.ecologiaverde.com/
- Cueto, J. (2019). Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004. “The wave was an explosion and the second I was deep in the sea drowning.” BBC News World. https://www.bbc.com/
- GeoEncyclopedia. (2023). Indian Ocean. https://www.geoenciclopedia.com/
- National Geographic. (2010). Oceans. https://www.nationalgeographic.es/
- Portillo, G. (2023). What are marine currents and how are they formed?. Network Meteorology. https://www.meteorologiaenred.com/
