Q. Consider the following statements: - The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form.
- No water enters the Red Sea from rivers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (UPSC Prelims 2024)
Answer:
Both 1 and 2
Notes: The correct answer is
[C] Both 1 and 2.The Red Sea is a unique marine ecosystem characterized by its isolation and extreme environmental conditions.
- Statement 1 (Correct): The Red Sea is situated in an arid to semi-arid region between the deserts of North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It receives very little precipitation, with average rainfall being extremely low (often less than 100 mm per year), mostly occurring in the form of short, intense thunderstorms. Evaporation rates in the region are significantly higher than the rate of precipitation.
- Statement 2 (Correct): There are no permanent rivers or streams that flow into the Red Sea. While there are "wadis" (seasonal dry riverbeds) that may carry flash flood water into the sea during rare rain events, there is no continuous influx of freshwater from any major river system.
Key Implications:
Because there is high evaporation and virtually no freshwater inflow from rain or rivers, the Red Sea has some of the
highest salinity levels of any body of water connected to the open ocean. It relies almost entirely on the exchange of water with the Indian Ocean through the narrow Strait of Bab-el-Mandeb to maintain its water level.