Question

See the maps A and B. They show the pattern of ocean currents in the Indian Ocean during different seasons. Study the maps carefully and answer the following questions:

1. Identify the season each map is representing and name them accordingly.

2. What difference do you notice in the direction of currents between winter and summer in Northern Part of the Indian Ocean?

3. How many cold currents are there in the Indian Ocean? Name them.

4. Why do you think the cold currents are fewer in Indian Ocean?

5. Which currents maintain the direction in both the seasons?

6.Can you see any circulation in the currents of the Indian Ocean? What are such circulations called? If yes, name the currents sequentially.

Answer 1

1 (a).Map A shows the summer season condition because in the northern portion of Indian Ocean the Ocean Currents (South Equator Current) flow along the coastlines and flow in the clockwise direction. 

(b). Map B shows the winter season condition because in the northern portion of Indian Ocean, the Ocean Currents flow in a complete reverse direction that is in the anticlockwise direction.

2. In the Northern Part of the Indian Ocean, during summer, the ocean currents flow along the coastlines and flow in the clockwise direction. In the winter season, these ocean currents flow a complete reverse and they flow in anticlockwise directions.

3. There are four cold currents in the Indian Ocean. The cold currents in the Indian Ocean are the North-East Monsoon Current, Somali Current, West Australian Current and South Indian Ocean Current.

4. (a). The Indian Ocean has land masses of three sizes. 

(b). There is varying surface circulation.

(c). There is no arctic contact. 

(d). The waters remain between 72° and 82° Fahrenheit across the upper layer. So, there are fewer colder currents in the Indian Ocean.

5. The Mozambique Current, The Equatorial Counter Current, the Agulhas Current and the Australian Current maintain the direction in both the seasons.

6. Yes, such circulations are currents called gyre. 

(a). The South Equatorial Current flowing east to west direction is under the influence of easterlies. 

(b). The ‘West Wind Drift’ flowing from west to east is under the influence of the westerlies. 

(c). The circulation is completed in the west by the Mozambique-Agulhas currents and in the east by West Australian Current,