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 makes 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
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct
- Isotherms are imaginary lines on maps that connect locations with equal temperatures (at sea level). Isothermal maps display these isotherms, providing a visual representation of temperature distribution across a region. They are useful in meteorology, climatology, and geography for studying temperature patterns, climate zones, and spatial temperature variations. Isothermal maps help in understanding climate classifications, temperature trends, and seasonal variations in different parts of the world. In January (winter in the Northern Hemisphere), continents will be colder than the surrounding oceans. Due to the temperature difference between land and water, isotherms will tend to bend northward over oceans (warmer) and southward over continents (colder) in January.
Statement 2 is incorrect
- In January, closer-spaced isotherms in the Northern Hemisphere indicate a steep temperature gradient, with eastern coasts having steeper gradients than western coasts. Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift are warm currents that cause the isotherms to bend northward over the North Atlantic Ocean, not southward.
