This set covers water in the atmosphere, the types of clouds and rainfall, air masses and fronts, cyclones, and the major world climate types. It builds on the previous set on pressure and winds and helps answer UPSC questions on weather systems and climatic regions.
How to practise: read each question and tap the option you think is correct. You will see right away whether you got it, along with a short explanation, and your score is tracked at the bottom of the screen. This set has 15 questions.
Topics covered in this set
- Relative humidity and dew point
- Types of clouds
- Convectional, orographic and frontal rainfall
- Air masses and fronts
- Tropical and temperate cyclones
- Koeppen classification and Mediterranean climate
UPSC Geography MCQs with answers and explanations
Q1. Relative humidity is defined as the:
a) percentage of moisture present in air compared to its full capacity at that temperature
b) total weight of water vapour per unit volume of air
c) weight of water vapour per unit weight of air
d) amount of rainfall received in a day
Q2. Dew point is the temperature at which:
a) water begins to boil
b) air becomes saturated and condensation begins
c) ice begins to melt
d) evaporation is at its highest
Q3. Rainfall on the windward side of a mountain, with a dry rain-shadow area on the leeward side, is called:
a) convectional rainfall
b) frontal rainfall
c) orographic rainfall
d) cyclonic rainfall
Q4. Convectional rainfall with afternoon thunderstorms on most days is typical of:
a) polar regions
b) mid-latitude deserts
c) Mediterranean regions in summer
d) equatorial regions
Q5. Cirrus clouds are:
a) low, thick, dark rain-bearing clouds
b) high, thin, feathery clouds made of ice crystals
c) towering thunderstorm clouds
d) layered fog-like clouds at ground level
Q6. Cumulonimbus clouds are associated with:
a) clear skies
b) light drizzle only
c) thunderstorms, heavy rain and sometimes hail
d) high feathery streaks
Q7. Tropical cyclones generally do not form within about 5 degrees of the equator because:
a) the sea surface is too cold there
b) there is no moisture over equatorial seas
c) surface winds are always too strong
d) the Coriolis force is too weak there
Q8. A tropical cyclone weakens rapidly after crossing the coast mainly because:
a) its supply of moisture and latent heat is cut off
b) the Coriolis force increases over land
c) its eye becomes larger
d) the air over land is warmer
Q9. Tropical cyclones in the western North Pacific, affecting countries such as China, the Philippines and Japan, are called:
a) hurricanes
b) willy-willies
c) typhoons
d) tornadoes
Q10. The calm, nearly cloudless central region of a mature tropical cyclone is called the:
a) front
b) trough
c) eyewall
d) eye
Q11. Temperate (extra-tropical) cyclones differ from tropical cyclones in that they:
a) form along fronts where warm and cold air masses meet
b) form only over warm tropical oceans
c) never move beyond 30 degrees latitude
d) always have stronger winds
Q12. A front where cold air advances and pushes underneath warm air is called a:
a) warm front
b) cold front
c) stationary front
d) occluded front
Q13. Mediterranean climate is characterised by:
a) rainfall throughout the year
b) heavy summer rainfall and dry winters
c) very cold winters with snow most of the year
d) hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters
Q14. In Koeppen's climate classification, the capital letter 'A' denotes:
a) dry climates
b) tropical humid climates
c) polar climates
d) warm temperate climates
Q15. Air masses that originate over cold oceans in high latitudes are classified as:
a) continental tropical (cT)
b) maritime tropical (mT)
c) maritime polar (mP)
d) continental polar (cP)
Quick revision notes
- Relative humidity is the percentage of moisture in the air compared with its full capacity at that temperature.
- Rainfall is of three main types: convectional, orographic (relief) and frontal or cyclonic.
- Cirrus clouds are high and made of ice, while cumulonimbus clouds bring thunderstorms and heavy rain.
- Tropical cyclones need warm seas above about 27 °C, a Coriolis force, and low vertical wind shear.
- Tropical cyclones are called hurricanes in the Atlantic, typhoons in the western Pacific and cyclones in the Indian Ocean.
- Mediterranean climate has hot dry summers and mild wet winters and lies on the western sides of continents around 30 to 40 degrees latitude.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a tropical cyclone and a temperate cyclone?
A tropical cyclone forms over warm tropical seas and gets its energy from latent heat, with a calm eye at the centre. A temperate cyclone forms along fronts in middle latitudes, covers a larger area and can form over land as well.
Why is the leeward side of a mountain often dry?
Air that has lost its moisture on the windward side descends the leeward side and warms up. Warmer air can hold more moisture, so clouds evaporate and little rain falls there.
What are air masses and why do they matter?
An air mass is a large body of air with fairly uniform temperature and humidity, taken from its source region. When different air masses meet, they form fronts, which bring changes in weather and often rain.
Comments
Post a Comment