With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26C isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January March. 2. OMT collected during January

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Q: (IAS/2020)
With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January – March.
2. OMT collected during January March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean

Select the correct answer using the code given below

question_subject: 

Geography

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,72,52,8,72,30,14

keywords: 

{'ocean mean temperature': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'monsoon': [1, 0, 2, 1], 'western indian ocean': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'rainfall': [4, 1, 7, 3], 'meters': [0, 1, 0, 2]}

The question is asking about two different aspects of Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT).

Option 1 is specific about how OMT is measured at a depth of 26°C isotherm which equates to 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January – March. However, the depth of a 26°C isotherm can vary significantly regionally and week on week, it is not consistently 129 meters deep in the specified region so this statement may not necessarily be accurate.

Option 2 makes a claim about the application of OMT data where it can be utilized in the prediction of rainfall variability in the monsoon seasons. Ocean temperatures do indeed play a significant role in climate and weather patterns, and can influence monsoon systems. Therefore, measurements of OMT (among other factors) could be used to assess if monsoon rainfall will be less or more than a long-term mean.

The correct answer is option 2, as the application of OMT in weather prediction (statement 2) is fairly established whereas the measurement details in statement 1 are not universally accurate.