Consider the following statements:In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warme

Q: What is UPSC Prelims?

UPSC Prelims is a competitive examination conducted in India. This question is from the 2021 UPSC Prelims Geography paper.

Q: How can I prepare for UPSC Prelims Geography?

To prepare for UPSC Prelims Geography, practice previous year questions (PYQs), understand concepts thoroughly, and solve mock tests regularly. This 2021 question covers Ocean Currents, Tides & El Nino / La Nina topic.

Q: What is the difficulty level of this question?

This UPSC Prelims 2021 Geography question has a medium difficulty level and is marked as an important question.

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Question

Consider the following statements:In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: C — Both 1 and 2Step-by-step Solution:Statement 1: Correct. In tropical zones, trade winds blow from east to west. They push surface water westward, causing upwelling of cold water along the west coast of continents (eastern sections of oceans become cooler). The western sections accumulate warm water (e.g., Gulf of Mexico, Arabian Sea). ✓Statement 2: Correct. In temperate zones, westerlies blow from west to east. They cause upwelling along the eastern sections of oceans (west coasts of continents become colder), while the western sections (east coasts of continents) are warmer due to warm ocean currents (e.g., Gulf Stream, Kuroshio). ✓Why other options are incorrect:Option A (1 only): Statement 2 is also correct.Option B (2 only): Statement 1 is also correct.Option D (Neither): Both are correct.Key Concept: Ocean surface temperature distribution is influenced by prevailing winds and ocean currents. Trade winds cause equatorial upwelling in the eastern Pacific (El Niño region). Westerlies drive warm water to eastern shores of continents (e.g., western Europe is warmer than eastern Canada at same latitude).

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