Consider the following statements in regard to Westerlies:
1) Westerlies blow from the Sub-tropical high Pressure Belt to the Sub-polar low Pressure Belt in the temperature latitudes between 30° N and 60° S latitudes.
2) They are more constant and stronger in the Southern Hemisphere because there are no large landmasses to interrupt them.
3) It got the name Westerlies because they blow out of the west.
Which of the statements given above is/are incorrect?
Explanation:
The directions of the Westerlies are opposite to trade winds and that is why they are also called antitrade winds. Westerlies blow in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, and originate from the high pressure area in the horse latitudes towards the poles. Under the effect of the Coriolis force, they become the south westerlies in the northern hemisphere and Northern westerlies in the southern hemisphere. Please note that in the southern hemisphere, there is more of ocean and less of land in comparison to the northern hemisphere. Due to this reason, the westerlies blow with much greater force in southern hemisphere in comparison to northern hemisphere.
- They are more constant and stronger in the Southern Hemisphere because there are no large landmasses to interrupt them.
- In places they become so strong, these winds are known as Roaring Forties or the Brave West winds and the Furious Fifties.
- The belts of the Westerlies move north and south following the Sun’s movement. These are known as Westerlies because they blow out of the west.
Hence statement 1st is incorrect.