UPSC Prelims 2010 · General Studies
Question 7: Science and Technology
Consider the following statements : The satellite Oceansat-2 launched by India helps in
- 1.estimating the water vapour content in the atmosphere.
- 2.predicting the onset of monsoons.
- 3.monitoring the pollution of coastal waters.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
AnswerThe answer is (d).
Oceansat-2 (launched September 2009) carries an Ocean Colour Monitor, a Ku-band scatterometer and an Italian radio occultation sounder (ROSA). The sounder measures atmospheric profiles including humidity, so it tells about water vapour; the scatterometer gives sea-surface winds that help predict monsoon onset and cyclones; ocean colour data show chlorophyll, sediment and pollution in coastal waters. All three statements are correct. Remember: Oceansat-2 = ocean colour + sea-surface winds + atmospheric sounding.
- 1. Its radio occultation sounder profiles the atmosphere, including water vapour.
- 2. Scatterometer winds over the ocean help forecast monsoon onset.
- 3. Ocean colour data reveal sediment, chlorophyll and pollution near coasts.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: Scatterometer winds over the ocean help forecast monsoon onset.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (a) and (b) go: each of them leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: Ocean colour data reveal sediment, chlorophyll and pollution near coasts.
Only (d) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.
This follows an unofficial answer: UPSC has not published its key for this year, and if that answer is wrong, so is this path.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Leaves out coastal pollution monitoring, which the ocean colour monitor supports.
- (b) Monsoon onset is only one of its uses; the other two statements are also correct.
- (c) Leaves out monsoon prediction, for which its sea-surface wind data are used.
- (d) Right: all three uses hold.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2010, General Studies, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.