With reference to "water vapour”, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. It is a gas, the amount of which decreases with altitude. 2. Its percentage is maximum at the poles. Select the answer using the code given below :
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
-
Statement 1 is correct. Water vapour is a gaseous component of the atmosphere. Its concentration is highest near the Earth's surface and rapidly decreases with increasing altitude. This is because most of the atmospheric moisture is derived from evaporation from surface water bodies and is concentrated in the lower troposphere.
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Statement 2 is incorrect. The percentage of water vapour is actually maximum in warm, humid tropical regions (near the equator) due to high rates of evaporation and warm air's ability to hold more moisture. It is lowest in cold, dry polar and desert regions, where the air is colder and thus holds less moisture. Therefore, stating it's maximum at the poles is fundamentally incorrect.
Thus, only statement 1 is correct.
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