Geography • Physical GeographyMedium
Analyze the thermodynamic and moisture dynamics associated with valley winds and mountain breezes: Assertion (A): During nighttime, cooling of air along mountain slopes creates a dense, cool down-slope airflow known as a mountain breeze. Reason (R): Radiative cooling of the elevated terrain chills the adjacent air, increasing its density and causing it to sink gravitationally along the valley axis under the influence of gravity. Which of the following is correct?
A. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A)✓ Correct Answer
B. Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A)
C. Assertion (A) is correct, but Reason (R) is incorrect
D. Assertion (A) is incorrect, but Reason (R) is correct
💡 Solution & Explanation
During the night, terrestrial radiation causes rapid cooling of mountain slopes, which in turn chills the air immediately in contact with the surface. This chilled air becomes denser than the surrounding free-air column at the same elevation and flows downslope under gravity, generating a mountain breeze. Conversely, daytime heating creates upslope valley winds. These local circulation systems are prominent in mountainous regions like the Himalayas.
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