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Q1Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2024
Consider the following statements:
1. The Red Sea receives very little precipitation in any form.
2. No water enters the Red Sea from rivers.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. The Red Sea lies in an arid belt receiving very little precipitation and has no major perennial river inflow. These factors contribute to its exceptionally high salinity.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 2 is also correct. The Red Sea has no major perennial river draining into it, making it one of the most saline water bodies in the world.
- Option B
Statement 1 is also correct. The Red Sea lies in an arid belt with negligible rainfall over most of its basin.
- Option D
Both statements are factually correct. The Red Sea's high salinity is a direct consequence of minimal freshwater input from rain or rivers.
Q2Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2023
Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter.
Statement-II: The specific heat of water is more than that of land surface.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
- ABoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I
- BBoth Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I
- CStatement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect
- DStatement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correctCorrect
Explanation
Correct. Statement-I is incorrect because the thermal contrast between continents and oceans is significant in both seasons. Statement-II is correct as water's higher specific heat causes it to heat and cool more slowly than land.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement-I is incorrect. The thermal contrast between land and ocean exists in both summer and winter and is not necessarily greater in summer alone.
- Option B
Statement-I is incorrect. While ocean temperatures remain more stable year-round, the claim that contrast is specifically greater in summer is not accurate.
- Option C
Statement-II is correct. Water has a higher specific heat (about 4.2 J/g°C) than land, causing it to heat and cool more slowly.
Q3Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2021
Consider the following statements:
1. The Global Ocean Commission grants licences for seabed exploration and mining in international waters.
2. India has received licences for seabed mineral exploration in international waters.
3. 'Rare earth minerals' are present on seafloor in international waters.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
- A1 and 2 only
- B2 and 3 onlyCorrect
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Correct. India has received exploration licences from the International Seabed Authority for polymetallic nodules in the Central Indian Ocean. Rare earth minerals are indeed found on the deep-ocean seafloor.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is incorrect. It is the International Seabed Authority (ISA), not the Global Ocean Commission, that grants licences for seabed mining in international waters.
- Option C
Statement 1 is wrong. The body responsible is the International Seabed Authority established under UNCLOS, not the Global Ocean Commission.
- Option D
Statement 1 is incorrect. The Global Ocean Commission is an advocacy body, not the regulatory authority for seabed mining licences.
Q4Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2021
Consider the following statements:
1. In the tropical zone, the western sections of the oceans are warmer than the eastern sections owing to the influence of trade winds.
2. In the temperate zone, westerlies make the eastern sections of oceans warmer than the western sections.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 only
- CBoth 1 and 2Correct
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Trade winds push warm surface water westward in the tropics, while prevailing westerlies push warm water eastward in temperate latitudes, creating the described asymmetric temperature patterns.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 2 is also correct. Westerlies push warm surface water eastward in temperate zones, making the eastern ocean sections relatively warmer.
- Option B
Statement 1 is also correct. Trade winds blow from east to west, piling warm surface water on the western margins of tropical oceans.
- Option D
Both statements are well-established oceanographic facts about how wind systems influence sea-surface temperature distribution.
Q5Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2021
With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:
1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of groundwater.
2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of groundwater.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- A1 only
- B2 onlyCorrect
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. Polar ice caps and glaciers hold about 68.7% of Earth's freshwater, while groundwater holds about 30.1%. Rivers and lakes contain less than 1%.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Statement 1 is incorrect. Groundwater constitutes a far larger share of freshwater than rivers and lakes combined.
- Option C
Statement 1 is wrong. Rivers and lakes hold a tiny fraction of freshwater compared to groundwater reserves.
- Option D
Statement 2 is correct. Ice caps and glaciers are the largest reservoir of freshwater on Earth, exceeding groundwater volumes significantly.
Q6Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2020
With reference to Ocean Mean Temperature (OMT), which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. OMT is measured up to a depth of 26°C isotherm which is 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean during January-March.
2. OMT collected during January-March can be used in assessing whether the amount of rainfall in monsoon will be less or more than a certain long-term mean.
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 only
- B2 onlyCorrect
- CBoth 1 and 2
- DNeither 1 nor 2
Explanation
Correct. OMT data from January-March has been used as a predictor of Indian monsoon rainfall. Warmer ocean temperatures in pre-monsoon months correlate with stronger monsoon activity.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
The depth of the 26°C isotherm varies and the specific claim about 129 meters in the south-western Indian Ocean is not accurate in that formulation.
- Option C
Statement 1 contains inaccurate specifics about the isotherm depth. Only Statement 2 about OMT's predictive utility for monsoon rainfall is correct.
- Option D
Statement 2 is correct. Indian scientists have demonstrated that pre-monsoon OMT readings serve as a useful predictor of subsequent monsoon rainfall.
Q7Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2015
Tides occur in oceans and seas due to which of the following?
1. Gravitational Force of the Sun
2. Gravitational Force of the Moon
3. Gravitational Force of the Earth
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A1 only
- B2 and 3 only
- C1 and 3 only
- D1, 2 and 3Correct
Explanation
Correct. Tides result from the combined gravitational effects of the Moon (primary), the Sun, and Earth's own gravitational field. The interaction of all three produces the tidal bulges.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
The Moon's gravitational pull is the primary cause of tides, and Earth's own gravity also plays a role in the tidal bulge formation.
- Option B
The Sun's gravitational force also contributes to tides. Spring tides occur when the Sun and Moon align their gravitational pulls.
- Option C
The Moon is the dominant cause of tides and must be included.
Q8Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2015
What explains the eastward flow of the equatorial counter-current?
- AThe Earth's rotation on its axis
- BConvergence of the two equatorial currentsCorrect
- CDifference in salinity of water
- DOccurrence of the belt of calm near equator
Explanation
Correct. The North and South Equatorial Currents, driven westward by trade winds, pile up water on the western margins. This creates a pressure gradient that drives the equatorial counter-current eastward between them.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Earth's rotation causes the Coriolis effect but does not directly explain the counter-current's eastward flow between the two main equatorial currents.
- Option C
Salinity differences do not explain the formation of the equatorial counter-current.
- Option D
The belt of calm (doldrums) is a zone of low wind, but the counter-current is primarily driven by the convergence and water-piling from the two equatorial currents.
Q9Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2013
The most important fishing grounds of the world are found in the regions where:
- AWarm and cold atmospheric currents meet
- BRivers drain out large amounts of freshwater into the sea
- CWarm and cold oceanic currents meetCorrect
- DContinental shelf is undulating
Explanation
Correct. Where warm and cold ocean currents converge, nutrient-rich cold water mixes with warm water, creating ideal conditions for plankton growth and supporting large fish populations. Examples include the Grand Banks and the seas near Japan.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
Atmospheric currents meeting does not create rich fishing grounds. It is the mixing of oceanic currents that matters.
- Option B
River outflows can provide nutrients, but this is not the primary factor behind the world's most important fishing grounds.
- Option D
An undulating continental shelf may provide varied habitats, but the convergence of ocean currents is the key factor for major fishing grounds.
Q10Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2013
The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas. What is/are the reason/reasons?
1. Thermal difference between land and water
2. Variation in altitude between continents and oceans
3. Presence of strong winds in the interior
4. Heavy rains in the interior as compared to coasts
Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- A1 onlyCorrect
- B1 and 2 only
- C2 and 3 only
- D1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation
Correct. The fundamental reason is the thermal difference between land and water. Land heats up and cools down much faster than water, causing greater temperature extremes in continental interiors.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
Altitude variation is not the primary reason for the annual temperature range difference between interiors and coasts.
- Option C
Strong winds in the interior do not explain the greater annual temperature range. In fact, coastal areas receive moderating sea breezes.
- Option D
Only the thermal difference between land and water is the correct explanation. Heavy rainfall in interiors compared to coasts is factually incorrect for most regions.
Q11Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2004
Which one of the following statements is NOT correct?
- AGulfs with narrow fronts and wider rears experience high tidesCorrect
- BTidal currents take place when a gulf is connected with the open sea by a narrow channel
- CTidal bore occurs when a tide enters the narrow and shallow estuary of a river
- DThe tidal nature of the mouth of the river Hooghly is of crucial importance to Kolkata as a port
Explanation
Correct. This statement is NOT correct. It is gulfs with wide fronts and narrow rears (funnel-shaped) that experience amplified high tides, not those with narrow fronts and wider rears.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option B
This is a correct statement. Tidal currents are generated when water moves through narrow channels connecting gulfs to the open sea.
- Option C
This is a correct statement. Tidal bores form when incoming tides are funnelled into narrow, shallow river estuaries, creating a wave that travels upstream.
- Option D
This is a correct statement. The tidal rise at the Hooghly mouth helps maintain navigable depth for ships reaching Kolkata port.
Q12Geography·OceanographyPYQ 2001
Assertion (A): During the Neap Tides, the high tide is lower and the low tide is higher than usual.
Reason (R): The Neap Tide, unlike the Spring Tide, occurs on the New Moon instead of on the Full Moon.
Which one of the following is correct?
- ABoth A and R are individually true, and R is the correct explanation of A
- BBoth A and R are individually true, but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
- CA is true, but R is falseCorrect
- DA is false, but R is true
Explanation
Correct. During neap tides, the Sun and Moon are at right angles, partially cancelling each other's pull, so highs are lower and lows are higher. R is false because neap tides occur at quarter moons, while spring tides occur at both new and full moons.
Why the other options are incorrect
- Option A
R is false. Neap tides occur during quarter moon phases (first and third quarters), not during new moon. Spring tides occur during both new and full moon.
- Option B
R is factually incorrect. The premise that neap tides occur on new moon is wrong.
- Option D
A is true. The tidal range is reduced during neap tides because of the perpendicular alignment of solar and lunar gravitational forces.