Consider the following statements: 1) Statement I: The amount of dust particles in the atmosphere is more in subtropical and temperate areas than in equatorial and polar regions. 2) Statement II: Subtropical and temperate areas have less dry winds. [2025]

Consider the following statements:

Statement I: The amount of dust particles in the atmosphere is more in subtropical and temperate areas than in equatorial and polar regions.
Statement II: Subtropical and temperate areas have less dry winds.

Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
Both Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
Statement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
Statement I is not correct but Statement II is correct

The atmosphere can hold small solid particles from various sources, including sea salts, fine soil, smoke, soot, ash, pollen, dust, and meteor fragments. These particles are mostly concentrated in the lower atmosphere, but convection currents can carry them to higher altitudes.
Subtropical and temperate regions have a higher concentration of dust due to dry winds, unlike equatorial and polar areas.
- Equatorial regions have high humidity and rainfall, which suppresses dust, and polar regions are covered in snow and ice, limiting dust sources.
Dust and salt particles also serve as hygroscopic nuclei, aiding in cloud formation by allowing water vapour to condense around them.

The two statements themselves help in elimination. Statement I says subtropical and temperate regions have more dust particles, which can be understood using basic geography, as these regions include many dry and desert areas. But Statement II says these regions have less dry winds, which directly contradicts the reason for higher dust concentration. Hence, Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect → Answer: (c)