With reference to El-Nino, which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?(1)El-Nino involves the appearance of warm currents along the coast in the Peruvian Pacific region.(2)This warm current raises the temperature of water near the coast by up to 10°C, increasing the quantity of plankton in the sea.Select the correct answer from the code given below:

1. A

   Only 1

   Option (a) states that only statement 1 is correct. This is the official key because El-Nino indeed involves the periodic appearance of warm ocean currents off the coast of Peru in the Eastern Pacific, disrupting the normal cold Humboldt Current. Statement 2 is incorrect because while the warm water does raise coastal temperatures, it drastically reduces (rather than increases) the quantity of plankton and fish populations in the region due to nutrient depletion.

2. B

   Only 2

   Option (b) claims that only statement 2 is correct. This is incorrect because the second statement contains a factual error regarding plankton quantity, which actually decreases during El-Nino events. Therefore, selecting only statement 2 misses the accurate description of the warm current phenomenon provided in the first statement.

3. C

   Both 1 and 2

   Option (c) asserts that both statements 1 and 2 are correct. This is incorrect because statement 2 is factually flawed regarding the increase of plankton in the sea. Consequently, combining both statements makes this option invalid.

4. D

   Neither 1 nor 2

   Option (d) states that neither statement 1 nor 2 is correct. This is incorrect because the first statement accurately describes the appearance of warm currents along the Peruvian coast during an El-Nino phase.

Summary. Official key is (a) with respect to the characteristics of El-Nino. El-Nino is marked by the anomalous warming of surface waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean along the coast of Peru. Statement 1 correctly identifies this primary mechanism of warm current appearance. Statement 2 is wrong because the influx of warm, nutrient-poor water suppresses upwelling, leading to a decrease rather than an increase in plankton and fish. Thus, only the first statement holds true.