Consider the following statements: Which of the statements given above is / are correct?

Answer: (b) 2 only

Western disturbances ride the westerlies; the belt is 30–60° in each hemisphere.

Statement by statement

1. ✗ WRONG Westerlies blow between about 30° and 60° latitude in EACH hemisphere, not from 30°N to 60°S.

2. ✓ CORRECT Western disturbances that bring winter rain to NW India travel with the westerlies.

The idea

Westerlies are the prevailing winds of the middle latitudes, named for the direction they come from. They occur in separate northern and southern belts. Moving low-pressure systems within the northern belt can carry moist weather into India during winter.

Mid-latitude westerly circulation → Western disturbance moves east → Moisture reaches north-west India → Air rises around the weather system and mountains → Rain falls on the plains → Snow falls at high Himalayan elevations

Why the others are wrong

(a) Accepts 30°N–60°S.

(c) Accepts 30°N–60°S.

(d) Rejects the western disturbance link.

The trap

“30°N and 60°S” spans both hemispheres — the westerlies don’t cross the equator.

Elimination technique

The interval 30°N to 60°S crosses the equatorial trade-wind belt. It cannot describe one continuous belt of westerlies. Remove (a) and (c), then check the winter-rain statement.

Also know

Trade winds lie towards the equator from the subtropical highs; polar easterlies lie towards the poles from the subpolar lows. The subtropical westerly jet is a fast upper-air current, distinct from surface westerlies. Western disturbances are important for winter wheat and Himalayan snow.