What could be the main reason/reasons for the formation of the African and Eurasian desert belt?1. It is located in the sub-tropical high-pressure cells.2. It is under the influence of warm ocean currents.Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this con- text?
✓ Correct answer: a) 1 only
ExplanationStatement 1 is correct : The African and Eurasian desert belt (Sahara, Arabian, Thar, Gobi) lies in the sub-tropical high-pres- sure zone (20°–30° latitudes).In this region, descending dry air from the Hadley Cell suppresses cloud formation and rainfall, creating arid conditions.This becomes the main reason for the formation of these deserts.Statement 2 is incorrect : Warm ocean currents increase evaporation followed by humidity, leading to higher rainfall in coastal areas rather than desert formation.Deserts are main- ly found near cold ocean currents (e.g., the Atacama Desert near the Peru Current, the Namib Desert near the Benguela Current), which cool the air and reduce its moisture-holding capacity, causing dry conditions.Moreover, many deserts in this belt are landlocked, far from direct oceanic influence.43
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