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Physical Geography (UPSC) (Part-III)

📆 March 8, 2025

Total Questions: 44

31. Consider the following statements [2023-I]

Statement-I: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter.
Statement-II: The specific heat of water is more than that of the land surface.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Correct Answer: (d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
Solution:Stl wrong. Temperature difference between ocean and continent is more in winter and not in summer. So automatically answer is D by elimination.

32. Consider the following statements: [2023-I]

  1. In a seismograph, P waves are recorded earlier than S waves.
  2. In P waves, the individual particles vibrate to and fro in the direction of waves propagation whereas in S waves, the particles vibrate up and down at right angles to the direction of wave propagation.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:P waves are compressional waves, which means that the individual particles vibrate to and fro in the direction of wave propagation. S waves are shear waves, which means that the particles vibrate up and down at right angles to the direction of wave propagation. P waves travel faster than S waves, so they are recorded earlier on a seismograph.

33. With reference to "water vapour", which of the following statements is/are correct? [2024-I]

  1. It is a gas, the amount of which decreases with altitude.
  2. Its percentage is maximum at the poles.

 

Select the answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only
Solution:Water vapour is a variable gas in the atmosphere, which decreases with altitude. In the warm and wet tropics, it may account for four per cent of the air by volume, while in the dry and cold areas of desert and polar regions, it may be less than one per cent of the air. Water vapour also decreases from the equator towards the poles. Hence correct answer is (a).

34. Consider the following description: [2024-I]

  1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low
  2. Precipitation occurs throughout the year.
  3.  Precipitation varies between 50 cm - 250 cm.
    What is this type of climate?
Correct Answer: (d) Marine West coast climate
Solution:Marine west coast climate is located poleward from the Mediterranean climate on the west coast of the continents. The main areas are: Northwestern Europe, west coast of North America, north of California, southern Chile, southeastern Australia and New Zealand. Due to marine influence, the temperature is moderate and in winter, it is warmer than for its latitude. The mean temperature in summer months ranges from 15°-20°C and in winter 4°-10°C. The annual and daily ranges of temperature are small. Precipitation occurs throughout the year. Precipitation varies greatly from 50-250cm. Hence correct answer is (d).

35. With reference to "Coriolis" force, which of the following statements is/are correct? [2024-I]

  1. It increases with increase in wind velocity.
  2. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator.

 

Select the answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Solution:The rotation of the earth about its axis affects the direction of the wind. This force is called the Coriolis force. It deflects the wind to the right direction in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere. The deflection is more when the wind velocity is high. The Coriolis force is directly proportional to the angle of latitude. It is maximum at the poles and is absent at the equator. Thus both statements are correct.

36. On June 21 every year, which of the following latitude(s) experience(s) a sunlight of more than 12 hours? [2024-I]

  1. Equator
  2. Tropic of Cancer
  3. Tropic of Capricorn
  4. Arctic Circle

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: (d) 2 and 4
Solution:On 21st June, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. The rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. As a result, these areas receive more heat. Sunlight of more than 12 hours is received at tropic of cancer. The North Pole is inclined towards the sun and the places beyond the Arctic Circle experience continuous daylight for about six months. Since a large portion of the Northern Hemisphere is getting light from the sun, it is summer in the regions north of the equator. The longest day and the shortest night at these places occur on 21st June. Thus, Option 2 and 4 are correct. Table 9.1: Length of the Day in Hours and Minutes on Winter and Summer Solstices in the Northern Hemisphere.
Latitude0°20°40°60°90°
December 2212h 00m10h 48m9h 8m5h 33m0
June 2112 h13h 12m14h 52m

18h 27m6 months 

37. One of the following regions has the world's largest tropical peatland, which holds about three years' worth of global carbon emissions from fossil fuels; and the possible destruction of which can exert a detrimental effect on the global climate. Which one of the following denotes that region? [2024-I]

Correct Answer: (b) Congo Basin
Solution:The Congo Basin is home to the world's largest tropical peatlands. The peat swamp forest of the Congo Basin stores around 29 billion tons of carbon - approximately equivalent to three years' worth of global greenhouse gas emissions - while the Basin as a whole absorbs nearly 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year. The Basin stretches across six countries-Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Congo, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The Congo Basin is one of the world's last regions that absorbs more carbon than it emits. Its possible destruction can have detrimental effect on the global climate. Thus, the correct answer is (b).

38. Consider the following statements: [2024-I]

Statement-I: The atmosphere is heated more by incoming solar radiation than by terrestrial radiation.

Statement-II: Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are good absorbers of long-wave radiation.

 

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Correct Answer: (d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct
Solution:Consider that the isolation received at the top of the atmosphere is 100 per cent. While passing through the atmosphere some amount of energy is reflected, scattered and absorbed. Only the remaining part reaches the earth's surface. Roughly 35 units are reflected back to space even before reaching the earth's surface. Of these, 27 units are reflected back from the top of the clouds and 2 units from the snow and ice-covered areas of the earth. The reflected amount of radiation is called the albedo of the earth. The remaining 65 units are absorbed, 14 units within the atmosphere and 51 units by the earth's surface. The earth radiates back 51 units in the form of terrestrial radiation. Of these, 17 units are radiated to space directly and the remaining 34 units are absorbed by the atmosphere. Thus, the atmosphere is heated more by terrestrial radiation than by incoming solar radiation. Hence, Statement I is incorrect. The long wave radiation is absorbed by atmospheric gases particularly by carbon dioxide and the other greenhouse gases as they are good absorbers of long wave radiation. Thus, Statement II is correct.

39. Consider the following statements: [2024-I]

Statement-I: Thickness of the troposphere at the equator is much greater as compared to poles.

Statement-II: At the equator, heat is transported to great heights by strong convectional currents.

 

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Correct Answer: (a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
Solution:The thickness of the troposphere varies with latitude. It is thickest at the equator and thinnest at the poles. This variation is due to the differences in temperature and, consequently, the density of the air at different latitudes. Warm air is less dense and causes the troposphere to expand, making it thicker at the equator. Thus, Statement 1 is correct. At the equator, the intense solar heating causes strong convectional currents. These currents transport heat to great heights, contributing to the greater thickness of the troposphere in this region. Thus, Statement II is correct. The strong convectional currents at the equator are the primary reason for the increased thickness of the troposphere compared to the poles. Hence correct answer is (a).

40. Consider the following: [2024-I]

  1. Pyroclastic debris
  2. Ash and dust
  3. Nitrogen compounds
  4. Sulphur compounds

How many of the above are products of volcanic eruptions?

Correct Answer: (d) All four
Solution:A volcano is a site where gases, ash, and molten rock, known as lava, are expelled onto the Earth's surface. The substances that emerge include lava flows, pyroclastic debris, volcanic bombs, ash, dust, and gases like nitrogen compounds, sulfur compounds, and small quantities of chlorine, hydrogen, and argon. Hence correct answer is (d).
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