Question

Assertion[A]: The Arabian Sea is much saltier than the neighbouring Bay of Bengal.

Reason[R]: The continuous input of freshwater from moonsoon rains and the Ganga-Brahmaputra river systems makes the Bay of Bengal relatively less saline.

Read the above given statements carefully and select the option that is true.

• A. Both A and R are true. R is the incorrect explanation of A.
• B. Both A and R are true. R is the correct explanation of A.
• C. A is true but R is false.
• D. A is false but R is true.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Both A and R are true. R is the correct explanation of A.

There are many factors that affect ocean salinity such as latitude, the addition of freshwater, winds, ocean currents, etc. Ocean surface salinity is the key variable for understanding how fresh water input and output affects ocean dynamics. Greater the amount of freshwwater entering an ocean, lesser will be its salinity. In India, the moonsoon rains and the Ganga-Brahmaputra river systems dump huge amounts of freshwater in the Bay og Bengal. This makes it relatively less saline when compared to the Arabian Sea.