Q. Consider the following statements regarding the “Indian Ocean Dipole”:
1. It is also known as Indian Nino.
2. It affects the strength of monsoons over the Indian subcontinent.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: C
Notes:
The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), also known as the Indian Niño, is an irregular oscillation of sea-surface temperatures in which the western Indian Ocean becomes alternately warmer (positive phase) and then colder (negative phase) than the eastern part of the ocean.
- The IOD involves a periodic oscillation of sea-surface temperatures (SST), between “positive”, “neutral” and “negative” phases.
- The IOD also affects the strength of monsoons over the Indian subcontinent.
- The IOD is one aspect of the general cycle of global climate, interacting with similar phenomena like the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the Pacific Ocean.
Source: G C Leong and The Hindu

