Which one among the following is the most plausible explanation for the location of the Thar Desert in Western India ?
Prevalence of sand dunes
The evaporation of moisture by heat
The absence of mountains to the North of Rajasthan to cause orographic rainfall in it
The moisture carried by the South-West Monsoon is driven away by the dry upper air current
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2014
The South-West Monsoon winds carry significant moisture from the Arabian Sea. However, over Western Rajasthan, there is a subsidence of dry air associated with the subtropical high-pressure belt. This descending dry air is stable and inhibits the formation of convective clouds necessary for rainfall. Furthermore, the Aravalli Range runs parallel to the direction of the monsoon winds, failing to act as an effective barrier to cause significant orographic rainfall on the windward side in this region, unlike the Western Ghats or the Himalayas. The combined effect of atmospheric circulation (descending dry air) and the topography contributes to the aridity. Option D directly addresses the primary meteorological cause.