The proper sequence of ridges from South to North in the Indian Ocean is:

(A) Kergelen-Gaussberg ridge → Chagos-Saint Paul ridge → Socotra-Chagos ridge → Laccadive-Chagos ridge
(B) Kergelen-Gaussberg ridge → Chagos-Saint Paul ridge → Socotra-Chagos ridge → Andaman-Nicobar ridge
(C) Chagos-Saint Paul ridge → Kergelen-Gaussberg ridge → Socotra-Chagos ridge → Laccadive-Chagos ridge
(D) Chagos-Saint Paul ridge → Kergelen-Gaussberg ridge → Socotra-Chagos ridge → Andaman-Nicobar ridge

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

Correct option is C

Kerguelen-Gaussberg Ridge (Southernmost)

• Located in the Southern Indian Ocean, it is part of the Kerguelen Plateau, one of the largest submerged volcanic plateaus on Earth.

Chagos-Saint Paul Ridge

• A mid-ocean ridge extending northward from Kerguelen, connecting with the Chagos Archipelago and influencing oceanic plate tectonics.

Socotra-Chagos Ridge

• Located in the western Indian Ocean, near Socotra Island (Yemen) and the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge, forming an important geological boundary.

Laccadive-Chagos Ridge (Option A) or Andaman-Nicobar Ridge (Option B) (Northernmost)

• Laccadive-Chagos Ridge is a volcanic hotspot extending towards India.
• Andaman-Nicobar Ridge is formed due to subduction of the Indo-Australian Plate under the Eurasian Plate.

Information Booster:

1. The Indian Ocean ridges are results of seafloor spreading and volcanic activity, influencing oceanic plate movements.
2. Kerguelen Plateau is a massive volcanic structure, crucial for understanding the geological evolution of the Indian Ocean.
3. Chagos-Laccadive Ridge is a hotspot volcanic chain extending from the Maldives to the Chagos Archipelago, impacting marine biodiversity.
4. Socotra-Chagos Ridge acts as a connecting structure between the Arabian Plate and the Indian Ocean tectonic features.
5. The Andaman-Nicobar Ridge is seismically active due to its subduction tectonics, often leading to earthquakes and tsunamis.
6. Both Laccadive-Chagos and Andaman-Nicobar ridges mark northern geological boundaries, depending on tectonic classification.