UPSC Prelims 2024 Q89: Geography – Oceanography
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Explanation
Red Sea - Physical Characteristics
Statement-by-Statement Breakdown:
| Statement | Claim | Verdict | Analysis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form | TRUE | The Red Sea is bordered by the Sahara Desert, Arabian Desert, and other hyper-arid regions. Annual rainfall over the Red Sea is extremely low - less than 100 mm in most areas, making it one of the driest sea regions on Earth. |
| 2 | No water enters the Red Sea from rivers | TRUE | The Red Sea has NO perennial rivers flowing into it. The surrounding countries (Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Yemen) are desert nations with no permanent rivers reaching the Red Sea. This makes the Red Sea unique - no freshwater river input. |
Why the Red Sea is exceptionally salty:
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Very high evaporation (hot, dry climate) | Concentrates salts |
| Very low precipitation (hyper-arid region) | No dilution from rain |
| No river inflow | No freshwater dilution |
Result: Red Sea is one of the world's saltiest bodies of water (salinity ~40 ppt vs. average ocean 35 ppt)
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Both statements are correct, not just Statement 1. The absence of river inflow is also a factual characteristic of the Red Sea.
- (b) Incorrect. Both statements are correct, not just Statement 2. The Red Sea does receive very little precipitation.
- (c) CORRECT. Both statements are correct. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation (hyper-arid surroundings) and has no rivers flowing into it - both contribute to its very high salinity.
- (d) Incorrect. Both statements are definitively correct and are among the well-known physical characteristics of the Red Sea.
Key point
Red Sea: very little precipitation (hyper-arid surroundings) + no river inflow = extremely high salinity (~40 ppt vs. ocean average 35 ppt). Both Statement 1 and 2 are correct and explain the Red Sea's unique characteristics.
Remember
The Red Sea receives very little precipitation and has no rivers flowing into it. These two factors combined with high evaporation make it one of the world's saltiest bodies of water.
Common mistakes
- Thinking rivers flow into the Red Sea - the surrounding Arabian and Sahara deserts have no perennial rivers reaching the Red Sea coast.
- Not knowing the Red Sea receives almost no rainfall - the bordering regions (Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt, Yemen) are among the world's most arid.
- Forgetting that the Red Sea's high salinity results from the combination of high evaporation, very low precipitation, and absence of freshwater river input.
Exam tip
Red Sea = salty because: 1) No rivers flow in, 2) Almost no rain, 3) High evaporation. Red Sea is connected to the Indian Ocean via the Gulf of Aden/Bab-el-Mandeb strait. SUMED pipeline: Red Sea to Mediterranean. Suez Canal: Red Sea to Mediterranean (waterway).
Sources
- NCERT Class 11 Geography - Chapter 13: Water (Seas and Oceans)
- NOAA - Red Sea Physical Characteristics