What could be the main reason/ reasons for the formation of African and Eurasian desert belt?
- It is located in the sub-tropical high pressure cells.
- It is under the influence of warm ocean currents.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this context?
-
1 only
-
2 only
-
Both 1 and 2
-
Neither 1 nor 2
A
Correct answer
Explanation
Statement 1 is correct. The desert occurs in two broad belts viz. at 20°30° north and south of the Equator along the tropics of cancer and Carpricon. The desert areas normally developed under the influence of high pressure areas.
The hot air at the equator would rise and spread north and south before cooling and it would condense and release its moisture over the tropical zones. This leads to development of an equatorial zone of low atmospheric pressure. The two tropical zones are at high pressure and Nearer to the poles are two pressure belts of cold. Now as the denser air sinks towards the ground to the subtropical high pressure belts, wind is created which is hot and complete lacking of moisture.
Statement 2 is wrong. Eurasian desert belt is related to cold currents, not warm currents.