Which of the following is/are correct inference/inferences from isothermal maps in the month of January ?
- The isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent.
- The presence of cold ocean currents, Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift make the North Atlantic Ocean colder and the isotherms bend towards the north.
Select the answer using the code given below :
1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
Answer is Right!
Answer is Wrong!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2024
Statement 1 is correct. Over continents, the cold air causes isotherms to bend southwards (equatorwards). Over oceans, the relatively warmer water causes isotherms to bend northwards (polewards). This describes the typical pattern observed on isothermal maps in January over the Northern Hemisphere.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift are warm ocean currents that transport warm water to higher latitudes in the North Atlantic. This makes the North Atlantic Ocean significantly *warmer* than surrounding land masses or areas influenced by cold currents. This warmth causes the isotherms to bend *north* over the North Atlantic, indicating higher temperatures extending polewards. The statement incorrectly claims these currents make the ocean colder.
Therefore, only Statement 1 is a correct inference.