In the context of atmospheric circulation, consider the following statements about heating, density and vertical movement of air parcels: 1. When an air parcel near the surface is heated, its density decreases and it tends to rise. 2. When an air parcel aloft is cooled, it becomes denser and tends to sink. 3. Rising warm air is commonly associated with convergence at the surface and divergence aloft. Which of the above statements are correct?

Introduction / Context:
Vertical movement of air parcels is fundamental to weather formation, cloud development, and global circulation. Heating and cooling directly influence air density, which in turn controls whether air rises or sinks. The question tests your understanding of these relationships and how they connect to convergence and divergence patterns in the atmosphere.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are examining idealized air parcels subject to heating and cooling.
• Gravity acts downward, and basic gas laws apply.
• No strong external forces such as intense turbulence are overriding the basic buoyancy effects.
• We are interested in general tendencies, not rare exceptions.

Concept / Approach:
When air is heated at constant pressure, it expands and its density decreases. Less dense air is buoyant relative to its surroundings and tends to rise. When air is cooled, it contracts, density increases, and the parcel tends to sink. Rising air must be supplied by inflow near the surface, which is called convergence. At higher levels, the rising air spreads outward, producing divergence aloft. These ideas form the basis of convection, cyclone development, and many cloud processes.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Thunderstorms illustrate these principles. Strong heating at the surface causes warm, moist air to rise rapidly. Surface weather maps show convergence of winds into the storm, while upper level charts show outflow or divergence. In contrast, subtropical high pressure belts show sinking air that has cooled and dried, which matches statement 2. These real world examples confirm all three statements.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A omits statement 3 and so does not describe the full circulation pattern around rising air. Option B ignores the role of cooling and sinking by leaving out statement 2. Option C neglects statement 1, ignoring the essential link between heating and rising motion. Option E keeps only statement 2 and misses the important processes of heating and convergence divergence coupling.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to think that convergence always causes rising motion, rather than recognizing that convergence and rising are linked through heating and buoyancy. Another pitfall is ignoring the upper level divergence that must accompany sustained rising motion, which is crucial for cyclone development. Remember that heating, density change, and vertical motion are closely connected.

Final Answer:
Since all three statements correctly describe basic physical behaviour of air parcels, statements 1, 2 and 3 are correct.