Why does the Tamil Nadu coast remain dry during the South-West Monsoon season?
1. It is situated parallel to the Bay of Bengal branch of southwest monsoon.
2. It lies in the rain shadow area of the Arabian Sea branch of the southwest monsoon.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation:
Three fourths of the total annual rainfall is received during this season. The average rainfall over the plains of India in this season is about 87 per cent. Normal date of the arrival of the monsoon is 20th May in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The advance of the monsoon is much faster in the Bay of Bengal than in the Arabian Sea. The normal date of onset of the southwest monsoon over Kerala i.e. the first place of entry in the mainland of India is 1st June.
Monsoon winds beyond south Kerala progress in the form of two branches viz. the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch.
The Tamil Nadu coast remains relatively dry during the south-west monsoon period because of the rain shadow effect of the Arabian Sea current and Bay of Bengal current which flows parallel to the coast.