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?

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CollectorBabu · Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: 1 only. Westerlies are normally stronger in areas where there is no land as land amplifies flow pattern by making the wind current to move more north south. It plays an important role in bringing warm, equatorial waters and winds to western coasts particularly in southern hemisphere due to its huge oceanic stretch. It is strongest in Southern Hemisphere because of the absence of varied heating rates which results because of no land masses, so only statement 1 is correct which makes option a correct.

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