The correct option is 1 only. In the Southern Hemisphere, the predominance of ocean over landmass allows the westerlies to be stronger and more persistent, as these winds can travel over vast, uninterrupted distances across water, where friction is minimal. In contrast, the Northern Hemisphere features significant landmasses that disrupt wind patterns and create varied weather systems, leading to a more complex interaction with climatic factors and a resultant weakening of the westerly flow. While the Coriolis force does impact wind direction, it does not directly explain the strength of the westerlies; thus, statement 2 is incorrect.