Previous Year Question
What causes wind to deflect towards left in the Southern hemisphere?
Correct Answer: C
Detailed Solution
Because of the Earth’s rotation, moving air appears to deviate from its straight path relative to the Earth’s surface. This apparent effect is known as the Coriolis effect.
Direction of deflection:
In the Northern Hemisphere, moving air is deflected towards the right of its path.
In the Southern Hemisphere, moving air is deflected towards the left of its path.
Major characteristics of the Coriolis effect:
It is zero at the equator.
Its strength increases with latitude.
It is maximum at the poles.
Its effect is greater on faster-moving air.
It does not generate wind; it changes the direction of air already in motion.
Other options:
Temperature: Temperature differences can produce pressure differences but do not directly cause leftward deflection.
Magnetic field: Ordinary winds consist of electrically neutral air; the Earth’s magnetic field does not deflect their large-scale flow in this manner.
Pressure: The pressure-gradient force moves air from high pressure towards low pressure, but hemisphere-specific deflection results from the Earth’s rotation.