Consider the following statements: Statement I: Roaring Forties are

Consider the following statements:

  • Statement I: Roaring Forties are strong Westerly winds found in the Southern Hemisphere, generally between the latitudes of 40° and 50°
  • Statement II: The strong East to West air currents are caused by the combination of air being displaced from the Equator towards the South Pole and the Earth’s rotation and there are few landmasses to serve as wind breaks
Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I
Statement I is true but Statement II is false
Statement I is false but Statement II is true
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UPSC CAPF – 2014
Both Statement I and Statement II are individually true, and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I. The Roaring Forties are powerful westerly winds found in the Southern Hemisphere, specifically between latitudes 40° and 50° South. Statement II accurately describes the primary factors contributing to these strong winds: the poleward movement of air from the subtropical high-pressure belts towards the subpolar low-pressure belts, deflected eastward by the Coriolis effect (caused by Earth’s rotation, making them Westerlies, i.e., blowing from the west), and the absence of significant landmasses in these latitudes of the Southern Hemisphere which allows the winds to blow unimpeded across large expanses of ocean, gaining strength.
The Roaring Forties are strong Westerly winds in the Southern Hemisphere mid-latitudes (40°-50°S). Their strength is due to the combined effect of atmospheric circulation patterns, the Coriolis effect, and the lack of continental landmasses acting as barriers.
Similar westerly winds exist in the Northern Hemisphere, but they are less consistently strong due to the presence of large continents. Further south, other zones of strong westerlies are known as the ‘Furious Fifties’ (50°-60°S) and the ‘Screaming Sixties’ (south of 60°S).
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