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Q26 (NDA-I/2018) Geography › World Physical Geography › Atmospheric pressure winds Answer Verified

Consider the following statements about Roaring Forties : 1. They are strong Westerly winds found in the oceans of Southern Hemisphere. 2. The strong east to west air cuirents are caused by the combination of air being displaced from the Equator towards the South Pole and the earth’s rotation and abundance of landmasses to serve as wind breaks. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as the Roaring Forties are powerful westerly winds found in the Southern Hemisphere, specifically between 40° and 50° S latitudes [1]. These winds blow from the northwest to the southeast [2]. Statement 2 is incorrect because it claims these winds are caused by an abundance of landmasses. In reality, the Roaring Forties are exceptionally strong because of the vast expanse of open ocean and the relative absence of landmasses in the Southern Hemisphere to act as windbreaks [1]. While the Coriolis effect and the displacement of air from the equator toward the poles (meridional circulation) do drive the global wind patterns, the lack of friction from land is what allows these specific westerlies to reach such high velocities compared to their Northern Hemisphere counterparts [1].

Sources

  1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 23: Pressure Systems and Wind System > The Westerlies > p. 319
  2. [2] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 14: Climate > Pressure and Planetary Winds > p. 140
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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CAPF · 2014 · Q7 Relevance score: 7.20

Statement I : Roaring Forties are strong Westerly winds found in the Southern Hemisphere, generally between the latitudes of 40° and 50° Statement I : The strong East to West air currents are caused by the combination of air being displaced from the Equator towards the South Pole and the Earth’s rotation and there are few landmasses to serve as wind breaks

IAS · 2000 · Q42 Relevance score: 5.54

Consider the following statements about the ‘Roaring Forties’: I. They blow uninterrupted in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. II. They blow with great strength and constancy. III. Their direction is generally from North - West to East in the Southern Hemisphere. IV. Overcast skies, rain and raw weather are generally associated with them. Which of these statements are correct ?

CAPF · 2015 · Q113 Relevance score: 1.98

Consider the following statements relating to cyclone, anti cyclone and trade wind : 1. The wind direction is clockwise in the cyclone of northern hemisphere 2. The planetary wind that blows from north-east to north-west is known as north-east trade wind 3. The wind direction is anti clockwisc in the anticyclone of southern hemisphere 4. Both westerlies and trade winds originate from sub-tropical highs Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

CDS-I · 2006 · Q90 Relevance score: 1.79

Consider the following statements: 1. Sudden storms and strong winds are the characteristics of equatorial low pressure area. 2. Westerly jet streams are seen in northern hemisphere only. Which of the statements given above is/ are correct ?

IAS · 2021 · Q88 Relevance score: 0.65

Consider the following statements: 1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds. 2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?