Question

Give a geographical reason:

Gyre develops in the Southern Indian Ocean.

Answer 1

Gyre develops in the Southern Indian Ocean because -

1. A gyre is a circular pattern of ocean currents. It is influenced by the shape of the coastline its extent and the peculiar arrangement of the wind system prevailing in the region.
2. The current system in the southern part of the Indian Ocean leads to the development of a large gyre.
3. The two major arms of this gyre are:

• The south equatorial current flowing east to a west direction under the influence of easterlies.
• The 'West Wind Drift' flowing from west to east under the influence of westerlies.
• The circulation is completed in the west by Mozambique-Agulhas currents and in the east by West Australian currents. It is considered to be one of the major gyres on a global scale.