Which of the following is/are correct inference/ inferences from isothermal maps in the month of January?

1. The isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent.

2. The presence of cold ocean currents, Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift make the North Atlantic Ocean colder and the isotherms bend towards the north.

Select the answer using the code given below.

The correct option is 1 only.

Let us understand the behavior of isotherms in the month of January (which is winter in the Northern Hemisphere) step-by-step:

1. Understanding Statement 1:
During January, the land masses in the Northern Hemisphere become much colder than the adjacent oceans because water has a higher specific heat capacity than land and cools down slower.
Consequently, when moving from land to ocean, isotherms (lines connecting points of equal temperature) bend or deviate. In the Northern Hemisphere during winter (January):
- Over the warmer oceans, the isotherms bend towards the poles (northwards) because warmer temperatures are found further north.
- Over the colder continents, the isotherms bend towards the equator (southwards) because colder temperatures push further south.
Therefore, Statement 1 is correct: the isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent.

2. Understanding Statement 2:
The Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic Drift are warm ocean currents, not cold currents.
These warm currents bring warmer water to the North Atlantic Ocean, making the region warmer than it would otherwise be at those latitudes, which causes the isotherms to bend northwards. Because Statement 2 incorrectly identifies these currents as "cold ocean currents" and claims they make the North Atlantic Ocean colder, Statement 2 is incorrect.

Since only the first statement is correct, the correct option is "1 only".