In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclone does not originate. What is the reason?
Sea surface temperatures are low
Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs
Coriolis force is too weak
Absence of land in those regions
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2015
Tropical cyclones require warm ocean waters (typically 26.5°C or higher) extending to a significant depth to provide the necessary heat and moisture. In the South-Eastern Pacific along the coast of South America, the cold Humboldt Current keeps the sea surface temperatures low. In the South Atlantic, cold currents (like the Benguela Current) and other factors like high vertical wind shear and unfavorable positioning of the ITCZ generally suppress tropical cyclone formation. While the ITCZ (option B) is also a factor, low sea surface temperature (option A) due to persistent cold currents is a fundamental constraint that prevents the formation or sustenance of tropical cyclones in significant parts of these tropical regions. Coriolis force (option C) is weak near the equator but sufficient in higher tropical latitudes; its weakness only explains the absence near the equator itself, not the entire regions. Absence of land (option D) over the ocean does not prevent cyclone formation.