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Westerlies in the southern hemisphere are stronger and persistent than in the northern hemisphere. Why?

1. Southern hemisphere has less landmass as compared to the northern hemisphere.

2. Coriolis force is higher in the southern hemisphere as compared to the northern hemisphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?


1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

1 Answer

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Best answer
Correct Answer - Option 1 : 1 only

The correct answer is 1 only.

  • The Southern hemisphere has less landmass as compared to the northern hemisphere.
  • The Northern Hemisphere's surface is about 40% landmass and is covered by about 60% water in Northern Hemisphere.
  • The Southern Hemisphere's surface is about 20% landmass and is covered by 80% water.
  • Westerlies
    • They are prevailing winds that blow from the west at midlatitudes.
    • These are the winds in the middle latitudes between 35 and 65 degrees latitude.
    • These are strongest in the winter when pressure over the pole is low, and weakest in summer when the polar high creates stronger polar easterlies.
    • The winds are predominantly from the southwest in the Northern Hemisphere and from the northwest in the Southern Hemisphere.
    • Westerlies are particularly strong, especially in the southern hemisphere, where there is less land in the middle latitudes to cause the flow pattern to amplify or become more north-south oriented.
    • This creates frictional or drags in the motion which ultimately slows the Westerlies down.
    • Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • Because the Earth rotates on its axis, circulating air is deflected toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection is called the Coriolis effect.
    • The amount of deflection the air makes is directly related to both the speed at which the air is moving and its latitude.
    • Therefore, slowly blowing winds will be deflected only a small amount, while stronger winds will be deflected more.
    • The Coriolis force is zero right at the equator. It is maximum at the poles.
    • Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

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