The Cyclones

Total Questions: 19

1. Consider the following statements : [I.A.S. (Pre) 2020]

1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.

2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.

3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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

Correct Answer: (c) 2 only

Solution:Jet streams are currents of air high above the surface of Earth. They move generally West to East at altitudes of about 8 to 15 kilometers. Their speed usually vary from 129 to 225 kilometers per hour, but they can reach 443 km/hr. They occur in both hemispheres - northern and southern. (3)

The "eye of a cyclone is an area of comparatively light winds and fair weather found at the centre of a severe tropical cyclone.

The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is higher than at the surrounding (the eye temperature may be 10°C warmer more at an altitude of 12 km than the surrounding environment, but only 0-2°C higher at the surface).

2. Consider the following statements: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]

Assertion (A): The surface winds spiral inwards upon the centre of the cyclone.

Reason (R) : Air descends at the centre of the cyclone.

Code:

(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:A cyclone is a large scale air mass that rotates around a strong center of low atmospheric pressure. They are usually characterized by inward spiraling winds upon the center of the cyclone. A cyclone centre is the area of lowest atmospheric pressure. Air descends at the centre of cyclone. Thus, both | (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

3. Which one of the areas marked as A, B, C and D in the given figure of the cyclone, witnesses heavy torrential short duration rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms? [I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]

(a) A
(b) B
(c) C
(d) D

Correct Answer: (d) D

Solution:The different parts of the cyclone have different weather phenomenon due to the difference in air mass and temperature. The air tends to rise and causes a drop in pressure. When two different air masses meet, the boundary zone between them is called a front. The warm air glides over the cold air and a sequence of clouds appear over the sky ahead of the warm front (A) and causes precipitation. The cold front(D) approaches the warm air from behind and pushes the warm air up. As a result, cumulus clouds develop along the cold front. In cold front area, the rising temperature produces strong upward rising winds. These winds carry water droplets upwards, where they freeze and fall down again. The swift movement of the falling water droplets along with the rising air creates lightning and sound. This event is a thunderstorm.

4. The Tornadoes are very strong tropical cyclones originating in: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1996]

(a) Caribbean Sea
(a) China Sea
(c) Arabian Sea
(d) Black Sea

Correct Answer: (a) Caribbean Sea

Solution:Tornadoes are tropical cyclones. They are small in size but are immensely powerful and destructive. A tornado is a dark funnel-shaped cloud that reaches from the sky to the ground. Normally tornado comes in all tropical and subtropical regions, but the Caribbean Sea and American region are most prone to it.

5. Which of the following would you generally associate with Tornadoes? [U.P. Lower (Spl) (Pre) 2009]

(a) Gulf of Mexico
(b) China Sea
(c) Indian Ocean
(d) U.S.A.

Correct Answer: (d) U.S.A.

6. Which one of the following regions of the U.S.A. is known as "Tornado Alley"? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]

(a) Atlantic Seaboard
(b) Pacific Coast
(c) Mississippi Plains
(d) Alaska

Correct Answer: (c) Mississippi Plains

Solution:

In great plains of USA when polar cold air mass meets with warm humid tropics air mass then a frightful cyclone develops, known as 'Tornado'. Tornado Alley is an area in plains of the mid-USA that has a very high number of destructive Tornadoes. Tornado Alley mainly includes states of Mississippi and Missouri Valley that is Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.

7. To measure the intensity of Tornadoes we use- [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2009]

(a) Mercalli scale
(b) Fujita Scale
(c) Saffir-samson scale
(d) Richter scale

Correct Answer: (b) Fujita Scale

Solution:The Fujita-Pearson Scale or more popularly known as the F-scale is used to measure the intensity of a tornado. The scale was named after Ted Fujita.

8. Which of the following area is more susceptible to typhoon cyclone? [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]

(a) Australia
(b) China-sea
(c) Asia
(d) America

Correct Answer: (b) China-sea

Solution:A typhoon is a mature tropical cyclone that develops in the mid-northern hemisphere of China Sea between 100°-180°E longitude. It is a rotating, organized system of clouds and thunderstorms that originates over tropical or subtropical waters and has closed, low-level circulation. Once a tropical cyclone reaches maximum sustained winds of 74 miles per hour or higher, it is then classified as hurricane, typhoon, or tropical cyclone, depending upon where the storm originates in world. In Northwest Pacific, it is typhoon. In South Pacific and Indian Ocean, term tropical cyclone is used. In North Atlantic, central North Pacific, and eastern North Pacific, hurricane is used.

9. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2005]

List-I	List-II
A. Australia	1. Hurricanes
B. China	2. Willy-Willy
C. India	3. Typhoons
D. U.S.A.	4. Cyclones

Code:

	A	B	C	D
(a)	1	2	3	4
(b)	2	3	4	1
(c)	3	2	1	4
(d)	4	3	2	1

Correct Answer: (b)

Solution:A tropical cyclone is known by different names in different parts of the world. It is called a 'Hurricane' in the USA, typhoon' in China. In North and North-West Australia it is called Willy-Willy and in India it is called Cyclones.

10. Willy-Willy is: [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre), 2001 I.A.S. (Pre) 1995]

(a) A type of tree grown in temperate regions
(b) A wind that blows in a desert
(c) A tropical cyclone of the north-west Australia
(d) A kind of common fish found near Lakshadweep islands

Correct Answer: (c) A tropical cyclone of the north-west Australia

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