Question

Due to the peninsular shape of India, the southwest monsoon winds arrive at the landmass as ____________.
1. Arabian sea branch
2. Bay of Bengal branch
3. Indian Ocean branch
4. Both the Arabian sea branch and bay of Bengal branch

Answer 1

Hint:
The monsoon winds in India approach the landmass in two branches, as the monsoon winds first hit Kerala. Thus it makes this area the first one to receive rain from southwest monsoons.
Monsoon winds are also present in other parts of the world.

Complete answer:
The monsoon winds originating from the Arabian Sea has further split into the three branches:

Western Ghats: The monsoon winds become cooler after they climb the hills of Western Ghats, and the moisture retention capacity decreases. As a result, the western coastal plain receives heavy rainfall.

In the other branch of the Arabian sea, the monsoon strikes the coast, which is in the north of Mumbai; these winds move along the Narmada and Tapi river valleys, which cause extensive rain in the central part of India.

The Arabian Sea’s third branch monsoon winds strike the Kachchh and Saurashtra Peninsula. These winds cause only scanty rainfall.

The branch of the Bay of Bengal strikes the Myanmar coast and other parts of southeast Bangladesh. Under the influence of the Himalayas and thermal low in the North West, this branch splits into two.

The southwest monsoon winds arrive at the landmass both from the Arabian Sea branch and Bay of Bengal branch due to the peninsular shape of India.

The answer is 4. Both the Arabian sea branch and bay of Bengal branch

Note:
The branch of the Arabian Sea is stronger than the branch of the Bay of Bengal as 65% of humidity comes from the Arabian Sea, and only 35% humidity comes from the Bay of Bengal.
Monsoons always blow from the cold regions to the warm ones. For the majority of India and Southeast Asia, the summer monsoon and the winter monsoon decide the climate.