Question

The Tamil Nadu coast remains relatively dry during the Southwest Monsoon season due to:

• A. Its location in the direct path of the Arabian Sea branch.
• B. Its location in the direct path of the Bay of Bengal branch.
• C. Its location parallel to the Bay of Bengal branch and in the rain-shadow of the Arabian Sea branch.
• D. The absence of any significant orographic features.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Its location parallel to the Bay of Bengal branch and in the rain-shadow of the Arabian Sea branch.

• When the Southwest Monsoon arrives in India (June-September), it comes in two branches:

• The Arabian Sea branch - which brings heavy rainfall to the western coast

• The Bay of Bengal branch - which brings rainfall to northeastern India and then moves westward

• Tamil Nadu remains relatively dry during this period because:

• The Western Ghats act as a barrier to the Arabian Sea branch of the monsoon

• The moisture-laden winds from the Arabian Sea release most of their rainfall on the western side of the Western Ghats (Kerala, western Karnataka)

• By the time these winds reach Tamil Nadu, they have lost most of their moisture

• This creates a "rain shadow effect" on the eastern side where Tamil Nadu is located