You will observe that rainfall generally shows a reducing pattern whe...
Explanation:
Rainfall patterns are influenced by various factors, including solar insolation, atmospheric circulation, and temperature gradients. When moving from the equator to the poles, there is a general trend of reducing rainfall. This can be explained by the change in solar insolation.
Change in solar insolation:
Solar insolation refers to the amount of solar radiation or sunlight received at a particular location. The intensity of solar radiation decreases as one moves away from the equator towards the poles. This is mainly due to the curvature of the Earth and the angle at which sunlight reaches the surface.
- At the equator, the Sun's rays are more direct, resulting in higher solar insolation. This leads to warmer temperatures and increased evaporation, which in turn contributes to higher rainfall.
- As one moves towards the poles, the angle at which sunlight reaches the surface becomes more oblique. This reduces the amount of solar radiation received, resulting in lower temperatures and decreased evaporation. Consequently, the amount of moisture available for condensation and rainfall decreases.
Other factors:
While solar insolation is the primary factor influencing rainfall patterns from the equator to the poles, other factors can also play a role:
- Atmospheric circulation: The movement of air masses and prevailing winds can affect rainfall patterns. However, in the context of the given options, it is not the main factor responsible for the reducing rainfall pattern.
- Formation of wavy isotherms at the equator: Isotherms are lines on a map connecting points with equal temperature. The formation of wavy isotherms at the equator can result in localized convective rainfall, but it does not explain the general trend of reducing rainfall when moving polewards.
- Movement of the jet stream along the way: The jet stream is a high-speed wind current in the upper troposphere. It can influence weather patterns, but its movement alone does not explain the reducing rainfall pattern.
In conclusion, the primary reason for the reducing rainfall pattern when moving from the equator to the poles is the change in solar insolation. As the angle of sunlight decreases and the amount of solar radiation received reduces, there is less evaporation and moisture available for rainfall.
You will observe that rainfall generally shows a reducing pattern whe...
- Two patterns are broadly observed. One, rainfall reduces from coastal to interior areas. Second, as mentioned in the question, any moisture-laden winds from the ocean will first hit the coastal areas and then interior areas.
- Moisture would go on reducing as the wind advances further in. Poles receive lesser solar insolation, have lesser evaporation and rainfall. The reverse is true for the equator. So, (a) is correct. Jet streams do not play a significant role here, and so, option (d) can be neglected.