Westerlies in the southern hemisphere are stronger and more persistent than in the northern hemisphere. Why? Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

Answer: (a) 1 only

Less land in the south explains stronger westerlies.

Statement by statement

1. ✓ CORRECT Less land means less friction — the westerlies blow freely (Roaring Forties).

2. ✗ WRONG The Coriolis force is the same at the same latitude in both hemispheres.

The idea

Wind loses speed through surface friction and encounters barriers over land. The southern middle latitudes have a broad ocean belt with fewer such interruptions. This allows a more continuous westerly circulation. Coriolis magnitude depends on latitude and speed, not on the name of the hemisphere.

Subtropical high supplies poleward-moving air → Rotation turns the flow eastward → Southern ocean offers few land barriers → Friction and topographic disruption are reduced → Strong, persistent westerlies develop

Why the others are wrong

(b) Accepts a stronger southern Coriolis force.

(c) Accepts a stronger southern Coriolis force.

(d) Rejects the landmass reason.

The trap

Coriolis differs by latitude, not by hemisphere.

Elimination technique

At matching latitude and wind speed, Coriolis has equal magnitude in the two hemispheres, with opposite deflection. A claim of inherently stronger southern Coriolis therefore cannot explain the contrast; eliminate every code containing statement 2.

Also know

Roaring Forties, Furious Fifties and Screaming Sixties name successive southern latitude belts. Mid-latitude depressions and their fronts travel within the westerly circulation. Easterly winds come from the east; westerlies come from the west. Antarctica lies poleward of these ocean belts and has its own cold-air circulation.