Oceanography: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)
1 previous year UPSC Prelims question on Oceanography (Geography). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–1 of 1 question
UPSC 2017Geography · Oceanography
Q1. With reference to ‘Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)’ sometimes mentioned in the news while forecasting Indian monsoon, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The IOD phenomenon is characterised by a difference in sea surface temperature between tropical Western Indian Ocean and tropical Eastern Pacific Ocean. 2.An IOD phenomenon can influence an El Nino’s impact on the monsoon. Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Indian Ocean Dipole(IOD) is defined by the difference in sea surface temperatures (SSTs) between the western and eastern parts of the Indian Ocean, not the Pacific Ocean. Specifically, it involves the SST gradient between the western equatorial Indian Ocean (50°E-70°E and 10°S-10°N) and the southeastern equatorial Indian Ocean (90°E-110°E and 10°S-0°N).
Statement 2 is correct: A positive IOD (warmer SST in the western Indian Ocean) can help mitigate the adverse effects of El Niño on the Indian monsoon by enhancing monsoonal rainfall. Conversely, a negative IOD (warmer SST in the eastern Indian Ocean) can exacerbate El Niño’s drought-like conditions over India.
Exam tip:
For S1, It’s called the Indian Ocean Dipole, so logically, it should involve two regions within the Indian Ocean, not the Pacific. So mentioning the Eastern Pacific is a red flag and likely false. For S2, phrase "can influence" is way too general to be called false. Atmospheric phenomenons are complex and related Hence likely true.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2017
(b) 2 only
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Oceanography?
This page covers 1 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Oceanography (Geography), asked from 1996 to 2024. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Oceanography?
Questions on Oceanography (Geography) are available for 15 years, from 1996 to 2024. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
