Which of the following statements with reference to Sleet is/are correct ? 1. Sleet is frozen raindrops and refrozen melted snow-water 2. It occurs when a layer of air with the temperature below freezing point overlies a warm layer near the ground surface Select the answer using the code given below :

Sleet is defined as frozen raindrops and refrozen melted snow-water [2]. It forms when snow falls from a cold upper layer into a warm layer (above freezing) where it melts or partially melts, and then enters a subfreezing layer near the ground [3]. Statement 1 is correct as it accurately describes the composition of sleet [1]. Statement 2 is incorrect because it describes a temperature inversion where a subfreezing layer overlies a warm layer near the ground; however, for sleet to form, the vertical profile must be the opposite: a warm layer must overlie a subfreezing layer near the ground [2]. This allows the liquid drops to refreeze into small ice pellets before hitting the surface [2]. If the cold layer near the ground is too thin, freezing rain occurs instead.

Sources

1. [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 24: Hydrological Cycle (Water Cycle) > Precipitation > p. 337
2. [2] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 10: Water in the Atmosphere > Precipitation > p. 88
3. [3] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 24: Hydrological Cycle (Water Cycle) > Precipitation > p. 338