Consider the following statements 1. The winds that blow between 30 degrees N and 60 degrees S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies. 2. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in the North-Western region of India are part of westerlies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

QUESTION

Medium

Physical Geography

Prelims 2015

Consider the following statements

The winds that blow between 30 degrees N and 60 degrees S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies.
The moist air masses that cause winter rains in the North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

The westerlies, anti-trades, or prevailing westerlies, are prevailing winds from the west toward the east in the middle latitudes between 30 North and 60 North latitude. They originate from the high-pressure areas in the horse latitudes and trend towards the poles and steer extratropical cyclones in this general manner. Tropical cyclones which cross the subtropical ridge axis into the westerlies recurve due to the increased westerly flow.

Westerly disturbances originate in the Mediterranean Sea, this sea is surrounded by high mountains and a plateau, as a result, high pressure developed there in September- October, while low pressure still developed over the Mediterranean water body. This disturbance is dragged to India or brought to India by Jet stream (westerly winds (flowing west to east)). This is why J&K and the NW part of India receive the highest rainfall from westerly disturbances.

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