Westerlies in southern hemisphere are stronger and persistent than in northern hemisphere. Why? 1. Southern hemisphere has less landmass as compared to northern hemisphere. 2. Coriolis force is higher in southern hemisphere as compared to northern hemisph

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Q: 89 (IAS/2011)
Westerlies in southern hemisphere are stronger and persistent than in northern hemisphere. Why?
1. Southern hemisphere has less landmass as compared to northern hemisphere.
2. Coriolis force is higher in southern hemisphere as compared to northern hemisphere.
Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

question_subject: 

Geography

question_exam: 

IAS

stats: 

0,228,63,228,12,44,7

keywords: 

{'northern hemisphere': [3, 0, 0, 2], 'southern hemisphere': [0, 0, 2, 2], 'westerlies': [0, 0, 0, 1], 'coriolis force': [0, 0, 0, 2]}

The Westerlies are prevailing winds that blow from the west toward the east in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude.

Option 1 is correct. The Westerlies are stronger in the Southern Hemisphere due to the significant difference in landmass. The Southern Hemisphere has less landmass compared to the Northern Hemisphere, reducing frictional influence on the flow of the winds. Therefore, the winds are stronger and persist longer.

Option 2 is incorrect. The Coriolis Effect, which is due to the Earth`s rotation, influences the direction of the winds, making them blow counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere. However, it doesn`t create a strength difference between the hemispheres.

So, the correct answer is 1, which states that the Southern Hemisphere has less landmass as compared to the Northern Hemisphere.

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