The Arid Regions/Deserts

Total Questions: 25

1. Consider the following statements :- [I.A.S. (Pre) 2009]

(1) Tropical deserts in the world are found in the trade wind bands of western ends of Continents-

(2) In India, Eastern Himalayan region receives more rain from North-eastern winds.

Which among the above statements is/are/ correct?

(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither I nor 2

Correct Answer: (a) Only 1

Solution:Tropical hot deserts are often found in the region of trade wind band between 15° to 30° South or North of Equator in the western side of continents. Therefore statement 1 is correct. In India, Eastern Himalayan region receives more rain from the Southwest winds coming from the Bay of Bengal. Therefore statement 2 is wrong.

2. The Kalahari Desert lies in [U.P.P.C.S. (GIC) 2010, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2008]

1. Botswana

2. Namibia

3. Zaire

4. Zambia

Select the correct answer from the code given below -

Code:

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 2
(d) 3 and 4

Correct Answer: (c) 1 and 2

Solution:

The Kalahari a large desert spreading over 900000 sq km. in the interior of Southern Africa. It mainly occupies Botswana, parts of Namibia and South Africa. Since, South Africa is not mentioned in the options, therefore, the correct answer will be option (c) (Botswana and Namibia).

3. Which of the following deserts is located in the Southern Hemisphere? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre), (Re-Exam) 2015]

(a) Kalahari
(b) Gobium
(c) Chihuahuan
(d) Sahara

Correct Answer: (a) Kalahari

Solution:The Kalahari Desert is located in the Southern hemisphere. It spread over 900000 square km. across (mainly) Botswana, Namibia and South Africa. The name of the Desert comes from Tswana word Kgala, which means "the great thirst" or "a waterless place".

The Kalahari climate is subtropical, with average annual temperatures greater than or equal to 18°C, and peaks reaching 40°C and above. The dry season occurs during the "cold" months, from April to September, which are the coldest six months of the year. The altitude ranges from 600 to 1600 meters, resulting in a cooler climate than that of the Sahel or Sahara. The landscape is characterized by semi-desert savannah, with xeric savanna or even semi-desert vegetation in the south and west. The Kalahari is home to various animals, including elephants, antelopes, lions, leopards, cheetahs, baboons, hyenas, and anteaters, among others. The region has national parks and reserves, such as the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, which protects the landscape and its wildlife.

4. What could be the main reason/reasons for the formation of African and Eurasian desert belt? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2011]

1. It is located in the sub-tropical high-pressure cells

2. It is under the influence of warm ocean currents.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Correct Answer: (a) 1 only

Solution:Most desert regions are the result of large climatic patterns. The sub-tropical high-pressure belts are adiabatic in nature hence they bring little rainfall to the African and Eurasian desert region. Warm Ocean currents are not a necessary condition for the desert belt. For instance the, Gobi cold desert doesn't come under the influence of any warm current.

5. Desert dwelling animals are called : [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

(a) Xerocoles animals
(b) Arboreal animals
(c) Fossorial animals
(d) Terrestrial animals

Correct Answer: (a) Xerocoles animals

Solution:Desert dwelling animals are called Xerocoles animals. Fossorial animals are those adapted to digging and life underground, while Arboreal are those adapted to life on the trees and Terrstrial animals are adapted to life on land.

6. The Great Victorian Desert is located at - [60th to 62nd B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2016]

(a) Australia
(b) India
(c) Egypt
(d) North Africa
(e) None of the above/More than one of the above

Correct Answer: (a) Australia

Solution:The Great Victorian desert is located in Western Australia and South Australia. It is the largest desert in Australia. It is spread over 348,750 sq. km of area. The Great Victoria Desert (GVD) stretches from eastern Western Australia to the western half of South Australia, making it Australia's largest desert. It is a dynamic sand-ridge desert with many low, frequently tangled sand dunes and lunettes bordering playa lakes (crescent-shaped dunes). There are few creeks and rocky outcroppings. Gibber plains can also be found. Eucalypt open woodlands, mulga woodlands, acacia shrublands, casuarina and mallee shrublands and woodlands, and chenopod and samphire shrublands are among the vegetation types found in the GVD. The scattered woodlands of majestic marble gums are noteworthy. Because agriculture has been limited in this area, habitats have largely remained undisturbed, and parts of the desert have been designated as protected areas, such as Mamungari Conservation Park (formerly known as Unnamed Conservation Park) in South Australia, a large area of pristine arid zone wilderness with cultural significance and one of Australia's 14 World Biosphere Reserves.

Source:- https://unacademy.com/content/upsc/study-material/world-geography/great-victoria-desert/

7. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Choose the correct answer from the codes given below: [U.P. Β.Ε.Ο. (Pre) 2019]

Assertion (A): Most of the hot deserts of the world are located on the Western margins of continents between 15°-30° North and South latitudes.

Reason (R) : Trade winds lose their moisture and badasoro humidity as it move westward.

Codes:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(c) (A) is true but (R) is false
(d) (A) is false but (R) is true

Correct Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

Solution:Most of the hot deserts of the world are located on the Western margins of continents between 15° -30° North and South Latitudes. Sahara and Kalahari deserts in Africa and Atacama in South America are examples.

Trade winds towards this region reach from Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemispheres. Thus, upon reaching the western part of the continent, they turn dry. This causes very title rainfall in this region. It is an important factor for desert formation in this region. The reason, therefore, is the correct interpretation of the statement. Hence, option (a) is correct.

8. Consider the following statements and answer the question with the help of codes given below: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

Statement (A): Deserts can be effective sources for Add the production of perennial energy.

Reason (R): As much energy is consumed by Etat (ontal) 2.3.9.9 mankind in one year, Desert can receive the energy is more than that in only 6 hour from the Sun.

Choose the correct answer from the following code -

(a) (A) and (R), both are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) (A) and (R), both are correct, but (R) is not the correct (B) explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is correct, but (R) is false.
(d) (A) is false but (R) is correct.

Correct Answer: (a) (A) and (R), both are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

Solution:Gerhard Knies, a German Particle Physicist, arrived at the remarkable conclusion that in just six hours, the world's deserts receive more energy from the sun than human consume in a year. In this way, deserts can be a source of perennial energy. So, both the statement and reason are correct and the reason is the correct explanation of the statement.

9. Desert is defined as the area where- [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]

(a) Temperature remains more than 42°C
(b) No plants are found
(c) Annual rain occurs less than 25 Cm
(d) Prominence of sand barrows

Correct Answer: (c) Annual rain occurs less than 25 Cm

Solution:Desert is a region where annual precipitation is less than 25cm, cimov Leuten. A desert is a location or a landscape that receives less than 250 mm of precipitation annually (about ten inches). Deserts make up about one-third of the planet's land area. Based on their dryness, deserts can
be classified into one of five categories: subtropical deserts, coastal deserts, rain shadow desertsinterior deserts and polar deserts are divided into these types according to the causes of their dryness.

10. The probability of having a deseart on the earth is more- [41 B.P.S.C. (Pre) 1996]

(a) Near Zero degree latitude
(b) Near 23º latitude
(c) Near 50º latitude
(d) Near 70° latitude

Correct Answer: (b) Near 23º latitude

Solution:The extension of hot dry desert climate on the earth is found between 15-30º latitudes. There are four major geographical conditions for the formation of desert on the earth:

(1) Presence of high air pressure around 30º latitudes. Here the winds keep descending from top to bottom, as a result of which the weather remains clear throughout the year. Sahara and Australian desert come under this phenomina.

(2) The deserts of the western coast of the continents are found between 20-30º latitudes. Probably the reason for this is the eastern direction of the winds. Trade winds enter from the eastern part of the continents. By the time it reaches the western part, it becomes dry. California (North America) W. Sahara (North Africa), Atacama (South America) and Namibia (South - West Africa) are similar deserts.

(3) Among the deserts located in the Rain shadows region of the mountains, North American desert (Death Valley), Patagonia desert (Argentina) and Peruvian desert are prominent.

(4) The desert located in the middle of the continents, which are located away from the humid winds, include the Australian desert and the Gobi (China and Mongolia).

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