Which one among the following statements is NOT correct?

The troposphere is lower at high latitudes than low latitudes

The north-south temperature gradients are much steeper in winter

The strongest horizontal temperature gradients are in middle latitudes in both summer and winter

The north-south temperature gradient are much steeper in summer

Answer is Right!

Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC Geoscientist – 2021

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The correct answer is The north-south temperature gradient are much steeper in summer.

The north-south temperature gradient refers to the change in temperature with latitude. This gradient is much steeper in winter than in summer. In winter, the high latitudes receive very little or no solar radiation, leading to very cold temperatures, while the low latitudes remain relatively warm. This creates a large temperature contrast. In summer, high latitudes receive much more solar radiation (long daylight hours), warming them significantly, which reduces the temperature difference between high and low latitudes, making the gradient less steep.

Statements A, B, and C are correct. The troposphere is indeed thinner at the poles (high latitudes) and thicker at the equator (low latitudes) due to temperature differences and convective activity. The north-south temperature gradients are much steeper in winter (as explained above), and the strongest horizontal temperature gradients are found in the middle latitudes in both seasons, where polar and tropical air masses interact, leading to frontal systems and strong winds like the jet stream.

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