Explanation
- A
Bothe Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement- II explains Statement-I
Both correct and II explains I. Equatorial convection stacks a thicker troposphere than at the poles.
- B
Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
Both correct but II does not explain I. Convection is why the tropopause is higher at the equator.
- C
Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
I correct, II incorrect. Strong equatorial convection is real.
- D
Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
I incorrect, II correct. The tropopause is higher in the tropics.
Summary. Official key is (a). The troposphere is much thicker at the equator (~16–18 km) than at the poles (~8 km). Intense heating drives deep convection that carries heat to great heights, lifting the tropopause. Statement-II therefore explains Statement-I.
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