The World Climate

Total Questions: 42

21. The temperature and rainfall record of a meteorological station are given below: [I.A.S. (Pre) 2001]

MonthsTemperature (°C)Rainfall (cm)
J9.412.2
F10.69.1
M11.77.9
A12.22.5
M13.31.8
J13.90.3
J13.9-
A14.4-
S15.60.8
O15.02.5
N13.36.1
D10.611.7

Average Temperature : 12.8°C

Average Rainfall : 54.9 cm per annum

Identify the region having the above climatic patterns from amongst the following:

Correct Answer: (a) Mediterranean region
Solution:Data mentioned above is related to Mediterranean region. In this region total rainfall is received during winter and summer is mostly dry as shown in the above data by negligible rains during the month of June and July. In such type of region, the temperature is near about same throughout the year.

22. Which one of the following climates are associated with the shifting of the pressure belts ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2010]

1. Equatorial climate

2. Mediterranean climate

3. Monsoon climate

4. Western European climate

Select the correct answer from the code given below :

Code:

Correct Answer: (c) 2 and 3
Solution:The Mediterranean and the monsoon climate are associated with the transfer of pressure belts. The Mediterranean climate regions are found in the western parts of continents between 30°-40° latitude in both the hemispheres.

Sub- tropical high-pressure belts are found in the middle of 30°-35° latitudes. Trade winds blow during summers in these latitudes whereas in winters these high pressure belts shift towards the equatorial line. There is an emergence of monsoon winds due to the shifting of atmospheric pressure belts.

23. Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the climatic regions while going from Zaire to the Netherlands? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]

1. Equatorial climate

2. Mediterranean climate

3. Hot desert climate

4. West European climate

Code:

Correct Answer: (a) 1,3, 2, 4
Solution:Zaire (Democratic Republic of the Congo) is a central African country whereas Netherland is a Western European country. The sequence of climatic regions while going from Zaire (D.R.C.) to Netherland are as follows:

1. Zaire falls in the equatorial region so firstly equatorial type of climate.

2. Hot desert climate in Sahara Western region.

3. Mediterranean type of climate in the Mediterranean Sea region.

4. Finally enters Netherland where there is Western European type of climate.

Thus (a) is the correct sequence of climate while going from Zaire to Netherland.

24. The world's wettest place is : [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (b) Mawsynram
Solution:Mawsynram (Meghalaya) is the wettest place on earth. Mawsynram is situated in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India. It's known for receiving the highest rainfall in India and is considered the wettest place on Earth, with an average annual rainfall of 11,872 millimeters.

The high rainfall is attributed to the orographic effect, where moist air from the Bay of Bengal is forced to rise over the Khasi Hills, leading to condensation and heavy precipitation.

The South-West Monsoon plays a crucial role in bringing moisture to the region, further contributing to the high rainfall. Mawsynram is located approximately 16 kilometers west of Cherrapunji, another area known for high rainfall, but Mawsynram receives a higher annual average rainfall.

25. The world's wettest place is : [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1997]

Correct Answer: (b) Mawsynram
Solution:Mawsynram (Meghalaya) is the wettest place on earth. Mawsynram is situated in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya, a state in northeastern India. It's known for receiving the highest rainfall in India and is considered the wettest place on Earth, with an average annual rainfall of 11,872 millimeters.

The high rainfall is attributed to the orographic effect, where moist air from the Bay of Bengal is forced to rise over the Khasi Hills, leading to condensation and heavy precipitation.

The South-West Monsoon plays a crucial role in bringing moisture to the region, further contributing to the high rainfall. Mawsynram is located approximately 16 kilometers west of Cherrapunji, another area known for high rainfall, but Mawsynram receives a higher annual average rainfall.

26. The coldest place on the earth is : [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2004, U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2004, U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1999]

Correct Answer: (d) Verkhoyansk
Solution:The coldest places of the world outside the Polar region was - When the question was asked Verkhoyansk (Siberia) (-67.8°C) (recorded on 1933) The lowest temperature of the world was recorded in Vostok in Antarctica on 21 July, 1983, which was 89.2°C.

27. Match correctly: [48th to 52 B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2008]

DescriptionLocation
A. The hottest1. Chile
B. The coldest2. Cherrapunji
C. The wettest3. Antarctica
D. The driest4. Sahara

Code:

ABCD
(a)1234
(b)4321
(c)2314
(d)3241
Correct Answer: (b)
Solution:The correct match is as follows:
DescriptionLocation
The hottestSahara Desert
The coldestAntarctica
The wettestCherrapunji
The driestChile

According to NASA's satellite data (2003-09), Dusht-e-Lut desert in Iran (highest temperature 70.7°C recorded in 2005) is the hottest place. According to Guinness World Record, the wettest place on earth is Mawsynram (11873 mm annual rain).

28. For short-term climatic predictions, which one of 3 the following events, detected in the last decade, is associated with occasional weak monsoon rains in the India sub-continent? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]

Correct Answer: (c) El-Nino and Southern Oscillations
Solution:Originally the term El Nino applied to an annual weak warm ocean current that ran southwards along the coast of Peru. It affects the Indian monsoon rains and causes drought-like situation. La Nina is cooling of water in the equatorial eastern Pacific Ocean which is opposite to the El Nino.

29. La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2011]

1. La Nina is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperature in the equatorial Indian Ocean Whereas El Nino is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

2. El Nino has an adverse effect on south-west monsoon on India, but La Nina has no effect on monsoon climate.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Solution:El-Nino is related to the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean which increases the temperature of the surface water while La Nina is related to the large pool of warm water in the western Pacific Ocean.

Al Nino has an adverse effect on south-west Indian monsoon whereas due to La Nina, on the western side of the Pacific Ocean, rainfall is generally heavier which activates the Indian summer monsoon also. So both the statements are wrong.

30. El-Nino develops in the [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]

Correct Answer: (a) Pacific Ocean
Solution:El-Nino is related to the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean which increases the temperature of the surface water while La Nina is related to the large pool of warm water in the western Pacific Ocean.

Al Nino has an adverse effect on south-west Indian monsoon whereas due to La Nina, on the western side of the Pacific Ocean, rainfall is generally heavier which activates the Indian summer monsoon also.