The 2004 Tsunami made people realize that mangroves can serve as a reliable safety hedge against coastal calamities. How do mangroves function as a safety hedge ?
A
The mangrove swamps separate the human settlements from the sea by a wide zone in which people neither live nor venture out
B
The mangroves provide both food and medicines which people are in need of after any natural disaster
C
The mangrove trees are tall with dense canopies and serve as an excellent shelter during a cyclone or tsunami
D
The mangrove trees do not get uprooted by storms and tides because of their extensive roots
Correct Answer: Option D
Explanation
1. Mangroves are coastal ecosystems found in tropical and subtropical regions, characterized by salt-tolerant trees and shrubs.
2. Their role as a safety hedge against coastal calamities like tsunamis and cyclones stems primarily from their physical structure.
3. Option (D) provides the most accurate explanation: Mangrove trees possess complex and extensive root systems (like prop roots, pneumatophores) that anchor them firmly in the soft, waterlogged soil. This dense network of roots helps dissipate wave energy and reduce the impact of storm surges and tides, preventing the trees from getting easily uprooted by storms.
4. This root structure, along with the dense vegetation, acts as a natural barrier, absorbing the force of incoming water and reducing inland damage.
5. Option (A) is incorrect; while mangrove swamps can be wide, their primary protective function isn't just separation but energy dissipation. People may live near or utilize mangrove areas.
6. Option (B) is incorrect; while mangroves provide resources, this is not their primary function as a safety hedge during the event itself.
7. Option (C) is partially true that they have dense canopies which can reduce wind speed, but their height varies, and the main protection against water-based calamities comes from the roots and overall structure.