Question

Corals reefs are generally absent on the western coasts of continents. This is because __________.

• A. Western coats of continents witness subsidence of air
• B. Western coast of continents has cold currents
• C. Western coast of continents has dry winds blowing over them
• D. None of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Western coast of continents has cold currents

Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae attach to submerged rocks or other hard surfaces along the edges of islands or continents. They are generally absent on the western coasts of continents because Western coast of continents has cold currents. Coral reefs do not flourish where there are cold currents because of the upwelling of the cold water from depths that cools the warm surface water. They flourish in warm tropical oceans with minimum temperature of 20 degree.