Geography chapter practice
Practise 80+ Indian Climate and Monsoon MCQs for UPSC Prelims in Geography, including 2+ previous year questions. The sample set below is shown with correct answers and explanations.
12 sample questions are shown here; sign up free to practise all 80.
Which one of the following is the correct sequence of the given Indian cities in the decreasing order of their normal annual rainfall?
Explanation
Correct. Kochi on the windward side of the Western Ghats receives roughly 3,000 mm, Kolkata about 1,600 mm, Patna about 1,100 mm, and Delhi about 790 mm annually.
Consider the following: Assertion (A): Bangalore receives much higher average annual rainfall than that of Mangalore. Reason (R): Bangalore has the benefit of receiving rainfall both from south-west and north-east monsoons. Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
Correct. Mangalore on the western coast receives about 3,500 mm of rainfall due to orographic lifting by the Western Ghats, far exceeding Bangalore's roughly 970 mm. The reason is true: Bangalore does receive rainfall from both the south-west and north-east monsoons, but this does not make its total higher than Mangalore's.
Consider the following statements about western disturbances: 1. They originate over the Mediterranean Sea and travel eastward. 2. They bring winter rainfall to north-western India. 3. They are associated with the tropical easterly jet stream. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Correct. Western disturbances are extra-tropical cyclonic systems that originate over the Mediterranean Sea region and are carried eastward by the sub-tropical westerly jet stream, bringing winter rainfall to Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. They are associated with the westerly jet, not the tropical easterly jet.
The phenomenon of 'Mango Showers' in India refers to:
Explanation
Correct. Mango showers are pre-monsoon showers that occur during March-May in Kerala and Karnataka. These thunder showers help in the early ripening of mangoes, giving them their name. They are driven by local convective activity and are distinct from the main monsoon rains.
The 'Cloudburst' phenomenon that sometimes causes flash floods in the Himalayan region during monsoon is characterised by:
Explanation
Correct. A cloudburst is an extreme rainfall event where more than 100 mm of rain falls in one hour over a small area (typically less than 20-30 sq km). In the Himalayan region, cloudbursts are caused by warm, moisture-laden monsoon air being forced to rise rapidly over steep terrain, forming intense cumulonimbus clouds that release concentrated rainfall, often causing devastating flash floods and landslides.
The 'onset vortex' associated with the Indian monsoon is:
Explanation
Correct. The onset vortex is a cyclonic low-pressure system that sometimes forms in the Arabian Sea around the time of the monsoon's arrival over Kerala. It plays a role in initiating the sudden burst of the monsoon by enhancing cross-equatorial flow and moisture convergence, accelerating the monsoon's rapid advance over the west coast.
Which of the following conditions is/are associated with La Nina and its impact on the Indian monsoon? 1. Cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific 2. Strengthening of the Walker circulation 3. Generally above-normal monsoon rainfall in India Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
Correct. La Nina features cooler-than-normal SSTs in the eastern equatorial Pacific, which strengthens the Walker circulation (rising air over the western Pacific/Indian Ocean, sinking over the eastern Pacific). This enhanced circulation increases moisture convergence over the Indian subcontinent, generally resulting in above-normal monsoon rainfall.
The 'October Heat' experienced in India is caused by which of the following conditions? 1. High temperature due to clear skies after the withdrawal of the monsoon 2. High humidity caused by residual moisture in the atmosphere Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
Explanation
Correct. During the retreating monsoon in October, the land remains warm, skies become clear again allowing direct heating, and residual moisture from the monsoon keeps humidity high. The combination of high temperature and high humidity creates the oppressive conditions known as October Heat.
The Tibetan Plateau plays a role in the Indian monsoon mechanism by:
Explanation
Correct. During summer, the elevated Tibetan Plateau acts as an elevated heat source, warming the upper troposphere. This heating creates a high-pressure anticyclonic system (the Tibetan High) in the upper atmosphere. This upper-level high helps establish the tropical easterly jet stream south of the plateau, which in turn reinforces the south-west monsoon flow at the surface.
Which of the following is the primary reason for the low rainfall in Ladakh despite its proximity to the Himalayas?
Explanation
Correct. Ladakh lies on the leeward side (north) of the Greater Himalayan range. The monsoon winds shed most of their moisture on the southern slopes of the Himalayas and very little moisture crosses to the trans-Himalayan region. This rain shadow effect makes Ladakh a cold desert with very low annual precipitation (about 100 mm).
El Nino conditions generally have which of the following effects on the Indian monsoon?
Explanation
Correct. El Nino involves anomalous warming of the eastern Pacific Ocean, which weakens the Walker circulation and reduces the pressure gradient between the Indian Ocean and the Indian landmass. This tends to weaken the south-west monsoon, often resulting in below-normal rainfall and sometimes drought.
Consider the following pairs: Local Wind - Region 1. Loo - Northern plains 2. Chinook - Western Ghats 3. Norwester - Eastern India Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Explanation
Correct. Loo is a hot, dry wind blowing over the Northern plains of India during summer. Norwester (Kal Baisakhi) is a thunderstorm phenomenon of eastern India. Chinook is a warm dry wind that blows along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in North America, not the Western Ghats.
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