MAINS 2014
GS1
10 marks
Tropical cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and Gulf of Mexico. Why?
WRITE IN
7 min
150 words
What the examiner wants
Explain the conditions that favour tropical cyclones in these regions and why others are less prone.
ExplainMake clear how and why it happens: causes, process, and an example for each point.
Demand-wise check
- 1Conditions: SST above about 26.5 degrees C, enough Coriolis force (beyond ~5 degrees latitude), low vertical wind shear, pre-existing low pressure, upper-level divergence, high humidity≈30 words
- 2Bay of Bengal: warm, shallow, closed sea, remnant Pacific lows, low shear in transition seasons≈30 words
- 3South China Sea and Gulf of Mexico: warm pools fed by warm currents (Kuroshio, Gulf Stream), enclosed seas≈30 words
- 4Note on premise: West Pacific is actually the most active basin; South Atlantic and SE Pacific rarely get cyclones due to cold currents and high shear≈30 words
Open in about 20 words and close in about 20.
Answer plan
Conditions for formationWhy each named region fitsWhy other oceans (South Atlantic, SE Pacific) do notConclusion
Where marks usually go
- Listing conditions without linking them to each region
- Not mentioning why the Arabian Sea gets fewer storms than the Bay of Bengal
Draw this
- World map of cyclone tracks with warm and cold currents marked
Value addition
- ExampleCyclone Catarina (2004) was the first recorded hurricane-strength storm in the South Atlantic, showing how rare they are there.Meteorological records, 2004
- DataThe Bay of Bengal gets roughly four times as many cyclones as the Arabian Sea.IMD
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Abhishek Singh · Page 11 ↗Reviewed PYQ reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.