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 :
Explanation
* Statement 1: Correct - Water vapour is indeed a gas, and its concentration generally decreases with altitude. This is because the air gets colder as we go higher, and colder air has a lower capacity to hold moisture.
* Statement 2: Incorrect - The percentage of water vapour in the atmosphere is highest near the equator and decreases as we move towards the poles. This is because the tropics receive the maximum solar radiation, leading to higher temperatures and more evaporation, which in turn increases the amount of water vapour in the air.