QUESTION

Hard

Indian Geography

Prelims 2017

With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct?

IOD phenomenon is characterized by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean.
An IOD phenomenon can influence El Nino’s impact on the monsoon.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) is characterized by a difference in sea surface temperature between the tropical Western Indian Ocean and the tropical Eastern Indian Ocean. The comparison involving the tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean refers to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon, not the IOD.

Statement 2 is Correct: The IOD can significantly influence the impact of El Niño on the Indian monsoon. A positive IOD often compensates for the deficit rainfall usually associated with El Niño, while a negative IOD can exacerbate the drought conditions caused by El Niño. These two climate patterns interact to determine the overall strength of the monsoon.

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