Oceans play an important role in human life and the environment. Justify.

Oceans cover three quarters of the earth’s surface and influence human life and environment in a variety of manner which have been discussed below –

• Climate – Rain, wind, cyclones are influenced by oceans. Coastal regions have moderate climates regulated by the sea breeze during day and land breeze during night. Inland areas have severe weather.

• Mineral Deposits – oceans have large deposits of minerals like common salt, bromine, magnesium chloride etc and are sources of fuels like coal, petroleum and natural gas. The oil field known as Mumbai High is around 162 km to the west of Mumbai shore in the Arabian Sea.

• Power generation – oceans are a source of clean power as waves and tides are used to generate electricity with considerably lower amounts of pollution in contrast to thermal power plants.

• Food Source – Oceans have a multitude of fishes and other organic bodies like sea weed etc which are used extensively as food. Production of various medicines, antibiotics, steroids and vitamins are dependent on marine organisms.

• Water Source – Ocean water in spite of its salinity can be used as a source of drinking water through the process of distillation. This allows areas with low levels of underground clear water like Lakshwadeep, Dubai have access to drinking water.

• The ocean provides job opportunities like fishing, shipping etc to different sectors of the economy.

• Oceans also provide opportunities for cheap transportation of bulky goods.

• It also opens an avenue for tourism through cruises, diving etc.

Thus, oceans play an important role in human life and environment.