Regarding the seasonal distribution of surface pressure over Northern Hemisphere land and oceans, which of the following statements are correct?

Concept overview / definition Horizontal distribution of pressure at the Earth's surface is closely related to the distribution of temperature. In winter and summer, the position of the Sun's direct rays shifts between hemispheres, strongly warming some regions while others cool. Land and water surfaces respond differently because of contrasts in specific heat, so continents and oceans often show opposite pressure tendencies in a given season.

Why the correct option is correct Statement 1 is correct because in January the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, large landmasses like Eurasia and North America cool strongly, and very high pressure areas develop over these cold continents. Statement 2 is correct since in July the direct solar rays fall over the Northern Hemisphere, continental interiors heat up, and low-pressure regions appear over many land areas. Statement 3 is correct because the surrounding oceans warm and cool more slowly, so over the sea higher pressure can persist in January where nearby land has strong highs, and compensating high or low pressure develops over oceans to balance continental lows or highs.

Why the other options are incorrect Any option that omits one of these three linked statements fails to capture the seasonal contrast highlighted in the discussion of January and July maps. The transcript clearly mentions extremely high pressure over cold northern land in winter, low pressure over land in summer, and the presence of contrasting pressure areas over oceans that counterbalance continental patterns. Therefore, choosing an option that includes only one or two statements would ignore part of the described seasonal behaviour of pressure belts.

UPSC exam tip / common confusion In exam questions on global pressure patterns, do not memorise maps mechanically. Instead, remember that pressure roughly mirrors temperature: very cold land in winter gives high pressure, very warm land in summer gives low pressure, and oceans respond more slowly. Thinking through the position of the Sun and the land–sea contrast for January and July helps you eliminate options that put low pressure over cold continents or high pressure over intensely heated summer interiors.