Answer» Correct Answer - Option 2 : 2 only
The correct answer is 2 only. - The depth for the 26-degree isotherm is 50-100 meters, not 129 meters. Hence statement 1 is not correct.
- During January–March, the mean 26 degrees isotherm depth in the Southwestern Indian Ocean is 59 meters.
- Ocean mean temperature(OMT) is a better indicator of monsoon rainfall than sea surface temperature (SST) because it measures ocean thermal energy. Hence statement 2 is correct.
- Ocean heat content (OHC) and Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT) are important climatic parameters required for atmospheric and oceanic studies like cyclone and monsoon predictions and ocean heat transport estimations.
- Sea surface temperature (SST) is routinely used for predicting whether the total amount of rainfall that India receives during the monsoon season will be less or more than the long-term mean of 887.5 mm.
- Now, scientists from Pune’s Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) find that ocean means temperature (OMT) that has a better ability to predict this than the sea surface temperature.
- Compared with SST which has a 60% success rate of predicting the Indian summer monsoon, OMT has an 80% success rate.
- The SST is restricted to a few millimeters of the top ocean layer and is largely influenced by strong winds, evaporation, or thick clouds.
- In contrast, OMT, which is measured up to a depth of 26 degrees isotherm, is more stable and consistent, and the spatial spread is also less.
- The 26 degrees isotherm is seen at depths varying from 50–100 meters.
- During January–March, the mean 26 degrees C isotherm depth in the Southwestern Indian Ocean is 59 meters.
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