- The Southern Hemisphere has less landmass as compared to the Northern Hemisphere.
- Coriolis force is higher in the Southern Hemisphere as compared to the Northern Hemisphere.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (a)
The westerly winds, also known as the westerlies, occur at two regions on Earth: between 30 and 60 degrees latitude in the Northern Hemisphere and between 30 and 60 degrees latitude in the Southern Hemisphere. The name of these unique winds comes from the direction of their origin; the westerlies run west to east while other winds run east to west.
Statement 1 is correct: In the Southern Hemisphere, westerlies are particularly strong, especially in areas where land is absent, because land amplifies the flow pattern, making the current more north-south oriented, slowing the westerlies.
Statement 2 is not correct: Coriolis force is strongest in the polar regions and zeroes at the equator. At the intermediate levels, it varies directly as the sine of the latitude.
