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Q1Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2025
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: In January, in the Northern Hemisphere, the isotherms bend equatorward while crossing the landmasses, and poleward while crossing the oceans.
Statement II: In January, the air over the oceans is warmer than that over the landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement ICorrect
- BBoth Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
- CStatement I is correct but Statement II is not correct
- DStatement I is not correct but Statement II is correct
Explanation
Correct. In winter the ocean cools more slowly than land, so marine air remains relatively warmer. This thermal contrast causes isotherms to bend poleward over oceans and equatorward over continents.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Statement II does explain Statement I. The differential heating between land and ocean is the direct cause of the isotherm bending pattern.
- Option C
Statement II is correct. Oceans have higher specific heat and retain warmth longer in winter compared to continental landmasses.
- Option D
Statement I is correct. This is a well-established pattern visible on any January isotherm map of the Northern Hemisphere.
Q2Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2025
Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The amount of dust particles in the atmosphere is more in subtropical and temperate areas than in equatorial and polar regions.
Statement II: Subtropical and temperate areas have less dry winds.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
- BBoth Statement I and Statement II are correct but Statement II does not explain Statement I
- CStatement I is correct but Statement II is not correctCorrect
- DStatement I is not correct but Statement II is correct
Explanation
Correct. Dust loading is greater in subtropical and temperate belts because they contain major desert-source regions with active dry winds. Statement II wrongly claims these areas have less dry wind.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement II is incorrect. Subtropical and temperate zones have significant dry wind activity, which is actually one of the reasons dust loading is high there.
- Option B
Statement II is factually wrong. These regions include major desert and dryland zones where dry winds are prevalent.
- Option D
Statement I is correct. Major dust sources like the Sahara, Arabian, and Central Asian deserts lie in subtropical and temperate latitudes.
Q3Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2025
Consider the following statements:
1. Without the atmosphere, temperature would be well below freezing point everywhere on the Earth's surface.
2. Heat absorbed and trapped by the atmosphere maintains our planet's average temperature.
3. Atmosphere's gases, like carbon dioxide, are particularly good at absorbing and trapping radiation.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A1 and 3 only
- B1 and 2 only
- C1, 2 and 3Correct
- D2 and 3 only
Explanation
Correct. Without the atmosphere, Earth's mean surface temperature would be about -18°C. The greenhouse effect traps heat, and gases like CO2 are particularly effective at absorbing and re-radiating longwave radiation.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 2 is also correct. The atmosphere's greenhouse effect maintains Earth's average temperature well above what it would be without it.
- Option B
Statement 3 is also correct. Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapour are efficient absorbers of outgoing longwave radiation.
- Option D
Statement 1 is also correct. Without the atmospheric blanket, Earth's blackbody temperature would be far below freezing.
Q4Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2024
With reference to 'water vapour', which of the following statements is/are correct?
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.
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Water vapour is concentrated in the lower atmosphere because it enters the air mainly through surface evaporation. Its percentage is highest in warm, humid tropical zones, not at the cold poles.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Statement 2 is incorrect. Water vapour concentration is highest near the equator where temperatures and evaporation rates are high, and lowest at the poles.
- Option C
Statement 2 is incorrect. Cold polar air has very low capacity to hold moisture, so water vapour percentage is minimal at the poles.
- Option D
Statement 1 is correct. Water vapour decreases rapidly with altitude because it is produced primarily at the surface and condenses at higher, cooler levels.
Q5Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2024
Consider the following statements:
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?
- ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement ICorrect
- BBoth Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II does not explain Statement I
- CStatement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect
- DStatement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correct
Explanation
Correct. The troposphere extends to about 16 km at the equator but only 8 km at the poles. Intense solar heating drives deep convection that pushes the tropopause higher at the equator.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Statement II directly explains Statement I. The vigorous convection at the equator is the mechanism that extends the troposphere to greater heights.
- Option C
Statement II is correct. Strong convectional currents are a defining feature of equatorial atmospheric dynamics.
- Option D
Statement I is correct. The troposphere is roughly twice as thick at the equator compared to the poles.
Q6Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2024
Consider the following description:
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?
- AEquatorial climate
- BChina type climate
- CHumid subtropical climate
- DMarine West coast climateCorrect
Explanation
Correct. Marine west coast climates have equable temperatures due to oceanic influence (low annual and daily range), year-round precipitation, and moderate rainfall totals of 50-250 cm.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Equatorial climates have much higher precipitation (typically above 200 cm) and higher temperatures throughout the year. The low daily range fits but the precipitation range is more characteristic of marine west coast.
- Option B
China type climate (humid subtropical eastern margins) has distinct seasonal variation and a wider temperature range than described here.
- Option C
Humid subtropical climates have a larger annual temperature range and more seasonal contrast in precipitation than described.
Q7Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2024
Consider the following statements:
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?
- ABoth Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II explains Statement I
- BBoth Statement I and Statement II are correct, but Statement II does not explain Statement I
- CStatement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect
- DStatement I is incorrect, but Statement II is correctCorrect
Explanation
Correct. The lower atmosphere is heated mainly by longwave terrestrial radiation re-emitted from the Earth's surface. Greenhouse gases are efficient absorbers of this longwave radiation, which is why Statement II is correct.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement I is incorrect. The atmosphere is largely transparent to incoming shortwave solar radiation but absorbs outgoing longwave terrestrial radiation.
- Option B
Statement I is incorrect. Most incoming solar radiation passes through the atmosphere and is absorbed by the Earth's surface, which then re-emits it as longwave radiation.
- Option C
Statement I is incorrect. The atmosphere is heated primarily from below by terrestrial radiation, not from above by incoming solar radiation.
Q8Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2024
With reference to 'Coriolis force', which of the following statements are correct?
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.
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Coriolis force depends on both wind velocity and latitude. It increases with wind speed and varies from zero at the equator to maximum at the poles.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 2 is also correct. The Coriolis parameter (f = 2Ω sin φ) is zero at the equator and maximum at the poles.
- Option B
Statement 1 is also correct. The Coriolis force is proportional to the speed of the moving object — faster winds experience greater deflection.
- Option D
Both statements are correct. The Coriolis effect is a function of Earth's angular velocity, the sine of the latitude, and the speed of the moving body.
Q9Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2024
Which of the following is/are correct inference/inferences from isothermal maps in the month of January?
1. The isotherms deviate to the north over the ocean and to the south over the continent.
2. The presence of cold ocean currents, Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift make the North Atlantic Ocean colder and the isotherms bend towards the north.
Select the answer using the code given below.
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. In January, oceans are relatively warmer so isotherms bend poleward (northward in Northern Hemisphere) over oceans and equatorward over continents. Statement 2 is wrong because the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift are warm currents, not cold.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Statement 2 is incorrect. The Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift are warm currents that make the North Atlantic warmer, not colder.
- Option C
Statement 2 misidentifies the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift as cold currents. They are warm currents that keep northwest Europe milder than corresponding latitudes.
- Option D
Statement 1 is correct. The differential heating of land and sea in January causes the observed poleward bending of isotherms over oceans.
Q10Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2023
With reference to the Earth's atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct?
- AThe total amount of insolation received at the equator is roughly about 10 times of that received at the poles.
- BInfrared rays constitute roughly two-thirds of insolation.
- CInfrared waves are largely absorbed by water vapour that is concentrated in the lower atmosphere.Correct
- DInfrared waves are a part of visible spectrum of electromagnetic waves of solar radiation.
Explanation
Correct. Water vapour is concentrated in the lower troposphere and is an efficient absorber of incoming and outgoing infrared radiation.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
The ratio is much smaller, roughly 2.5 times. The equator-to-pole insolation gradient is significant but not tenfold.
- Option B
Infrared radiation constitutes less than half of total solar insolation. Visible light accounts for about 43% and infrared about 49% — not two-thirds.
- Option D
Infrared is not part of the visible spectrum. It lies beyond the red end of visible light with longer wavelengths.
Q11Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2022
Consider the following statements:
1. High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth.
2. Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth's surface and thus cause a warming effect.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2Correct
Explanation
Correct. Low clouds are more important for reflecting incoming solar radiation (cooling effect), while high thin clouds are relatively more effective at trapping outgoing longwave radiation (warming effect). Both statements reverse these roles.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
High clouds (cirrus) are thin and allow most solar radiation to pass through; they primarily trap outgoing longwave radiation and cause a net warming effect.
- Option B
Low clouds are thick and reflective — they primarily reflect incoming solar radiation and produce a net cooling effect, not warming.
- Option C
Both statements invert the actual radiative roles of high and low clouds.
Q12Geography·Climatology and Atmospheric CirculationPYQ 2021
'Leaf litter decomposes faster than in any other biome and as a result the soil surface is often almost bare. Apart from trees, the vegetation is largely composed of plant forms that reach up into the canopy vicariously, by climbing the trees or growing as epiphytes, rooted on the upper branches of trees'. This is the most likely description of:
- AConiferous forest
- BDry deciduous forest
- CMangrove forest
- DTropical rainforestCorrect
Explanation
Correct. Tropical rainforests have the fastest decomposition rates due to high temperature and humidity, leaving bare soil. Climbing plants (lianas) and epiphytes competing for canopy light are hallmark features.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Coniferous forests have slow litter decomposition due to cold temperatures, and needles accumulate on the forest floor. Epiphytes are not a dominant feature.
- Option B
Dry deciduous forests shed leaves seasonally and have litter accumulation during the dry season. Epiphytic growth is limited.
- Option C
Mangrove forests are specialized coastal ecosystems with aerial root systems. Epiphytic growth is present but not the dominant vegetation strategy described.