Consider the following statements 1 Arabian Sea Branch of Southwest monsoon causes extensive rainfal...........

Geography and Environment (HAS) Monsoons and Climate in India

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Consider the following statements:

1. Arabian Sea Branch of Southwest monsoon causes extensive rainfall in central India.

2. The monsoon winds enter West Bengal from south-westerly direction.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 only

Both 1 and 2

Neither 1 nor 2

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Explanation:

Explanation: Statement 2 is incorrect: The monsoon enters West Bengal and Bangladesh from south and southeast instead of from the south-westerly direction.
Supplementary notes: Monsoon winds of Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal The monsoon approaches the landmass in two branches i. e.the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch.
Monsoon Winds of the Arabian Sea The monsoon winds originating over the Arabian Sea further split into three branches: Its one branch is obstructed by the Western Ghats.
These winds climb the slopes of the Western Ghats from 900-1200 m.
Soon, they become cool, and as a result, the windward side of the Sahyadris and Western Coastal Plain receive very heavy rainfall ranging between 250 cm and 400 cm.
After crossing the Western Ghats, these winds descend and get heated up.
This reduces humidity in the winds.
As a result, these winds cause little rainfall east of the Western Ghats.
This region of low rainfall is known as the rain-shadow area.
Another branch of the Arabian Sea monsoon strikes the coast north of Mumbai.
Moving along the Narmada and Tapi River valleys, these winds cause rainfall in extensive areas of central India.
A third branch of this monsoon wind strikes the Saurashtra Peninsula and the Kachchh.
It then passes over west Rajasthan and along the Aravallis, causing only a scanty rainfall.
In Punjab and Haryana, it too joins the Bay of Bengal branch.
These two branches, reinforced by each other, cause rains in the western Himalayas.
Monsoon Winds of the Bay of Bengal The Bay of Bengal branch strikes the coast of Myanmar and is part of southeast Bangladesh.
But the Arakan Hills along the coast of Myanmar de fl ect a big portion of this branch towards the Indian subcontinent.
The monsoon, therefore, enters West Bengal and Bangladesh from south and southeast instead of from the southwesterly direction.
From here, this branch splits into two under the in fl uence of the Himalayas and the thermal low is northwest India.
Its one branch moves westward along the Ganga plains, reaching as far as the Punjab plains.
The other branch moves up the Brahmaputra valley in the north and the northeast, causing widespread rains.