Which among the following is NOT a factor affecting the distribution of temperature of ocean water?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Longitude
The temperature of ocean water depends on how much heat from the sun it receives and on how water and air carry that heat around. The factors are latitude, the unequal distribution of land and water, prevailing winds and ocean currents.
Option (1) Longitude — Not a factor (Correct). Longitude only gives a place’s east-west position; places on the same latitude receive the same sunlight whatever their longitude.
Option (2) Latitude — A factor (Incorrect). Surface water cools from the equator towards the poles because the sun’s rays become more slanting and bring less heat.
Option (3) Prevailing wind — A factor (Incorrect). Offshore winds drive warm surface water away so that cold water rises from below; onshore winds pile up warm water near the coast.
Option (4) Ocean currents — A factor (Incorrect). Warm currents raise the temperature of cold areas (the Gulf Stream off north-west Europe) and cold currents lower it (the Labrador Current off North America).