Consider the following statements : 1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds. 2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2 ✓ UPSC's answer
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Why the answer is (c)
• Statement 1 is correct: in the tropics the trade winds blow east to west, piling warm surface water on the western side of ocean basins (e.g. the West Pacific warm pool), while upwelling cools the eastern side.
• Statement 2 is correct: in temperate latitudes the westerlies push warm currents (Gulf Stream/North Atlantic Drift, Kuroshio) toward the eastern margins, making Western Europe and the US Pacific coast milder than the western sections at the same latitude.
• Together these explain the clockwise gyres of the northern hemisphere and why Britain is warmer than Labrador.
• Hence both 1 and 2, option (c).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 2 is also correct: westerlies warm eastern ocean sections in temperate zones.
- (b) 2 only
- Statement 1 is also correct: trade winds warm western tropical sections.
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
- Both statements are correct.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2021, held on 10 October 2021. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.