Question

Give a geographical reason:

Salinity is less in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean.

Answer 1

Salinity is less in the Bay of Bengal than in the Indian Ocean because -

1. The salinity of ocean water is a measure of the concentration of dissolved salts, which are mostly sodium chloride, but also include salts containing magnesium, sulphur, calcium, and potassium. It is expressed as parts per thousand (%).
2. The factors that affect the salinity of ocean water are the rate of evaporation and the quantitative supply of freshwater (primarily from rainfall and stream discharge) is being added to the ocean.
3. The average salinity of seawater is 35% But salinity in the Bay of Bengal is as low as 31%. 
4. This is because huge discharges from the Ganga river system, the Peninsular River (Godavari, Krishna, etc.) and Irrawaddy enter the Bay of Bengal, thereby reducing its salinity.