GT-02 Explanation

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Institute for IAS Examination
PRELIMS CAMP 2024
Test - 02/12
Batch 1 and 2
Geography(Objective)
Explanation
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Answer Key – Prelims CAMP GT-02-Geography (06-01-2024)

1. (B) 11. (B) 21. (C) 31. (A) 41. (D)
2. (A) 12. (B) 22. (A) 32. (C) 42. (B)
3. (A) 13. (D) 23. (A) 33. (C) 43. (C)
4. (A) 14. (A) 24. (C) 34. (C) 44. (B)
5. (A) 15. (D) 25. (B) 35. (C) 45. (B)
6. (A) 16. (A) 26. (C) 36. (A) 46. (B)
7. (D) 17. (B) 27. (A) 37. (B) 47. (D)
8. (D) 18. (C) 28. (B) 38. (B) 48. (B)
9. (B) 19. (C) 29. (D) 39. (C) 49. (B)
10. (D) 20. (D) 30. (C) 40. (B) 50. (A)
Q1.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● The proportion of gases changes in the higher
layers of the atmosphere in such a way that
oxygen will be almost in negligible quantity at
the height of 120 km. So, statement 1 is correct.
● Argon (0.93%) is more abundant than Helium
(0.0005%) in the atmosphere. So, statement 2 is
not correct.
● Carbon dioxide and water vapour are found only
up to 90 km from the surface of the earth. So,
statement 3 is correct.
So, only two of the above statements are correct.
Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Subject: Geography | Climate Weather and Atmosphere
Tags: Conceptual, Factual
Q2.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● The meteors make it through the exosphere and thermosphere without much trouble because
those layers don’t have much air. But when they hit the mesosphere, there are enough gases to
cause friction and create heat. Meteors get burnt up in the Mesosphere and are often referred
to as shooting stars.
● The Thermosphere is home to the International Space Station and Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
satellites as it orbits Earth. They are located at a distance of around 400 km from the surface of
the earth.
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● When the ions of the solar wind collide with atoms of oxygen and nitrogen from the Earth’s
atmosphere, the energy released during these collisions causes a colourful glowing halo around
the poles—an aurora. The scientific name for the northern lights is Aurora Borealis, while the
scientific name for the southern lights is Aurora Australis. This phenomenon occurs in the
Thermosphere.
● Noctilucent clouds are rare high-altitude clouds that can only be seen under specific conditions.
They are visible during the summer months, when the Mesosphere is at its coldest at the poles.
Noctilucent clouds only appear during the summer months, and only at latitudes between
about 45 and 80 degrees north or south of the equator. When temperatures are low enough,
water vapour freezes onto the dust particles, forming ice crystals. When the sun illuminates
them from below the horizon, these ice crystals reflect the sunlight and appear as electric blue
wisps in the night sky.
Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.
Q3.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● The insolation received by the Earth is in short waveforms and heats its surface. The Earth after
being heated itself becomes a radiating body and it radiates energy to the atmosphere in the
long waveform. This energy heats the atmosphere from below. This process is known as
terrestrial radiation. So, statement 1 is correct.
● Earth experiences the highest temperatures in the subtropics in the Northern Hemisphere.
Maximum insolation is received over the subtropical deserts, where the cloudiness is the least.
The Equator receives comparatively less insolation than the tropics due to its cloudy climate. So,
statement 2 is not correct.
Tags: Factual
Q4.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● On 21st June, the rays of the sun fall directly on the Tropic of Cancer. The longest day and the
shortest night at these places occur on that day in the Northern Hemisphere. This is called
Solstice.
● On 21st March and 23rd September, direct rays of the Sun fall on the equator. At this position,
neither of the poles is tilted towards the Sun; so, the whole Earth experiences equal days and
equal nights. This is called an Equinox.
● On 3rd January, the Earth is the nearest to the Sun. This position is called Perihelion.
● During its revolution around the Sun, the Earth is farthest from the Sun (152 million km) on the
4th of July. This position of the Earth is called Aphelion.
Tags: Factual
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Q5.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● On a warm sunny day, the mountain slopes are heated more than the valley floor. Hence, the
pressure is low over the slopes while it is comparatively high in the valleys below. As a result,
the gentle wind begins to blow from the valley towards the slopes and it assumes the name of
valley breeze or anabatic wind.
● After sunset, the rapid radiation takes place on the mountain slopes. Here, high pressure
develops more rapidly than on the valley floor. Cold arid heavy air of mountain slopes starts
moving down towards the valley floor under the force of gravity. This is known as the
mountain breeze or katabatic wind.
● The gradient wind is a balance of the pressure gradient force, centrifugal force and Coriolis
force. A geostrophic wind becomes a gradient wind when the wind begins flowing through
curved height contours. The curving motion introduces a centrifugal (outward fleeing) force.
Tags: Conceptual, Analytical
Q6.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● The troposphere is the lowermost
layer of the atmosphere. Its average
height is 13 km and extends roughly
to a height of 8 km near the poles
and about 18 km at the equator. The
temperature in this layer decreases
at the rate of 1° C for every 165 m of
height. So, point 1 is correct.
● The stratosphere is found above the
tropopause and extends up to a
height of 50 km. One important
feature of the stratosphere is that it
contains the ozone layer. As can be
seen in the graph, temperature
increases with an increase in height.
So, point 2 is not correct.
● The mesosphere lies above the
stratosphere, which extends up to a
height of 80 km. In this layer, once
again, the temperature starts decreasing with the increase in altitude and reaches up to minus
100° C at the height of 80 km. So, point 3 is correct.
● The average air temperature rises with height in the thermosphere mainly due to the
absorption of ultraviolet radiation by molecular oxygen and atomic oxygen. So, point 4 is not
correct.
Tags: Conceptual
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Q7.
Answer: d
Explanation:
● Snowline is the lowest limit of permanent snow. It is an imaginary line above which the snow
never melts completely. The height of the snowline is not uniform and is affected by latitude,
amount of snowfall, direction of winds and slope.
● In the Eastern Himalayas and Kumaon Himalayas the snowline is around 3,500 m above sea level
whereas in Western Himalayas, it is about 2,500 m above sea level.
● In equatorial regions due to high temperatures, the snowline is situated at a greater height
but it decreases towards the poles. The snowline in the polar regions is generally at sea level
because the temperature in these areas remains below the freezing point throughout the year.
So, statement 1 is not correct but statement 2 is correct.
● Other factors affecting the snowline:
○ Amount of snowfall: The height of the snowline is generally lower in those areas
where the amount of snowfall is more than its loss. In the Great Himalayan ranges, the
snow line is at lower elevations on the southern slopes than on the northern slopes
because the southern slopes receive more precipitation as compared to the northern
slopes.
○ Direction of winds: The snowline is higher in areas experiencing dry and hot winds
because they melt the snow quickly. On the other hand, the snow line is lower in areas
lying across the path of cold and humid winds.
○ Slope of the land: Snow falling on steep slopes does not stay long. It slips down into the
valleys. This causes the snowline to be higher in such regions.
So, Statement–I is incorrect but Statement–II is correct.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
Q8.
Answer: d
Explanation:
● An Air Mass is a large volume of air in the atmosphere that is uniform in temperature and
moisture and extends thousands of kilometres across the surface of Earth and can reach from
ground level to the stratosphere (16 kilometres into the atmosphere).
● It forms over large surfaces with persistent atmospheric conditions (uniform temperatures and
humidity) called source regions. In these regions, the upper air is dominated by anticyclones,
which tend to have light winds and generally clear skies. Air masses are of four categories based
on their source regions:
○ Arctic air masses form in the Arctic region and are very cold.
○ Tropical air masses form in low-latitude areas and are moderately warm.
○ Polar air masses take shape in high-latitude regions and are cold.
○ Equatorial air masses develop near the Equator and are warm.
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● When winds move air masses, they carry their weather conditions (heat or cold, dry or moist)
from the source region to a new region. When the Polar air masses and Tropical/Subtropical air
masses reach mid-latitude regions in the Northern hemisphere, and also when Arctic air masses
and Tropical/Subtropical air masses reach mid-latitude regions in the Southern hemisphere,
they collide along the weather front (border between two air masses at the Earth’s surface)
and form cyclones due to difference in temperature of these air masses.
● These cyclones are called temperate cyclones or extra tropical cyclones or wave cyclones in
which hot air ascends into the atmosphere resulting in the formation of clouds and severe
storms. These cyclones prevent the formation of stable air mass in these mid-latitude regions.
So, statement 1 is not correct and statement 2 is correct.
So, Statement–I is incorrect but Statement–II is correct.
Q9.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● Dew is moisture that condenses at the ground level. It is the drops of water that form on the
ground and other surfaces outside during the night. So, pair 1 is correctly matched.
● Fog can be described as a cloud forming very close to or at ground level. It requires air with
sufficient moisture to cool or to be cooled to a temperature to achieve condensation. Once
condensation occurs, visibility decreases dramatically. So, pair 2 is correctly matched.
● Mist is the water particles floating or falling in the atmosphere at or near the surface of the
earth and approaching the form of rain. So, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
○ Frost is a covering of ice crystals on the surface produced by the depositing of water
vapour to a surface cooler than 0° C (32° F). Frost is observed as ice crystals mostly on
grass.
So, only two of the above pairs are correctly matched.
Tags: Conceptual
Q10.
Answer: d
Explanation:
● In a cloud, sunlight is scattered by much larger water droplets. These scatter all colours almost
equally meaning that the sunlight continues to remain white and so makes the clouds appear
white against the background of the blue sky (Principle of scattering of light). So, statement 1 is
correct.
● Lightning is formed in a cloud when positively charged particles and negatively charged
particles are separated, forming an electrical field. When the electrical field is strong enough, it
discharges a superheated bolt of lightning to the Earth. So, statement 2 is correct.
● The sound of thunder is the sonic shock wave that comes when the air, heated by the lightning
bolt, expands very rapidly. So, statement 3 is correct.
○ Thunder is created when lightning passes through the air. The lightning discharge heats
the air rapidly and causes it to expand.
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○The temperature of the air in the lightning channel may reach as high as 50,000 degrees
Fahrenheit, 5 times hotter than the surface of the sun. Immediately after the flash, the
air cools and contracts quickly. This rapid expansion and contraction create the sound
wave that we hear as thunder.
Relevance: Several deaths were reported due to lightning across India in 2023.
Tags: Factual, Analytical
Q11.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● Anticyclones are regions of relatively high pressure on horizontal surfaces, or high geo-
potential height on isobaric surfaces, around which air circulates clockwise in the Northern
Hemisphere and counter-clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

Tags: Analytical
Q12.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is correct: The percentage of sunlight reflected from a surface is called its albedo.
In general, the greater the albedo, the cooler the surface because less sunlight is absorbed. It is
usually expressed as a percentage or a decimal value, with 1 being a perfect reflector and 0
absorbing all incoming light.
● Statement 2 is correct: The higher the albedo, the greater the amount of heat that is reflected
back. Conversely, a decrease in albedo results in the absorption of more heat, leading to
intensified local warming. This, in turn, accelerates the melting of ice, creating a feedback loop
that further reduces albedo.
● Statement 3 is incorrect: soil is darker when it gets wet from rain, so it absorbs more sunlight,
decreasing its albedo. Soil and sand surfaces have a wide range of albedos, from less than 0.1 for
black organic soils to greater than 0.5 for white sands.
● Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.
Q13.
Answer: d
Explanation:
● The atmospheric pressure is the weight of a column of air contained in a unit area from the
mean sea level to the top of the atmosphere.
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● Due to gravity the air at the surface is denser and hence has higher pressure. In the lower
atmosphere, the pressure decreases rapidly with height and this variation is the primary cause
of air motion of winds from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas. The vertical pressure
gradient force is much larger than that of the horizontal pressure gradient. However, it is
generally balanced by a nearly equal but opposite gravitational force. Therefore, people do not
experience strong upward winds.
● The horizontal winds near the Earth's surface are affected by the combined effect of three
forces: the pressure gradient force, the frictional force and the Coriolis force.
Q14.
Answer: a
Explanation:
Fog can form in the following situations:
● Upslope fog: This type of fog occurs when moist air is forced to rise up a slope, such as a
mountain, and cools as it rises, causing the moisture in the air to condense and form fog. So,
point 1 is correct.
● Steam fog: This type of fog occurs when very cold air moves over a warmer body of water,
causing the moisture in the warmer air to condense and form fog. So, point 2 is correct.
● Advection fog: This type of fog occurs when moist air is blown over a cold surface, such as when
warm, moist air from the ocean blows over a colder land mass. So, point 3 is not correct.
● Radiation fog: It is most prevalent during the fall and winter. It forms overnight as the air near
the ground cools and stabilises. When this cooling causes the air to reach saturation, fog will
form.
● Convection fog: This type of fog occurs when warm, moist air is cooled as it rises, often due to
the presence of a mountain or other topographic feature. This can also occur when the air is
cooled by contact with a cold surface, such as a cold ocean or lake.
Tags: Factual, Conceptual
Q15.
Answer: d
Explanation:
● An ‘Atmospheric River’ is a plume of moisture in the atmosphere, typically 250 to 375 miles
wide and can stretch more than a thousand miles long. They are vast airborne currents of dense
moisture carried aloft for hundreds of miles from the Pacific and funnelled over land to fall as
bouts of heavy rain and snow. It carries saturated air from the tropics to higher latitudes.
Atmospheric rivers usually originate over tropical regions. So, statement 1 is correct.
● They are long, narrow regions in the atmosphere. They transport a huge amount of water
vapour outside of the tropics. They are like rivers in the sky. These columns of water vapour
move with the weather, carrying a huge flow of water. So, statement 2 is correct.
● They usually form when winds over the Pacific Ocean carry moist air toward the east and, on
reaching the land, turn its moisture into immense quantities of rain and snow in Western
coastal regions of North America. E.g. – ‘Pineapple Express’ caused heavy rainfall in Nevada,
USA. So, statement 3 is correct.
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Relevance: California has experienced an exceptionally wet winter with 11 atmospheric rivers battering
the state since late December, 2022.
Tags: Conceptual
Q16.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● Mediterranean climate or warm-temperate Western Margin Climate is found between the
30o– 45oN-S latitudes & gets its name from the climate found around the Mediterranean Sea.
The basic cause of this type of climate is the shifting of the wind belts with summers – warm to
hot, and winters – cool but mild. These regions have also been called ‘winter-rain & summer
dry’.
● Though the area around the Mediterranean Sea has a great extent of this type of agriculture,
the best-developed form of this peculiar type of climate is in fact found in central Chile.
● In a land with half the year dry, one cannot expect the natural vegetation to be luxuriant. In the
Mediterranean area, the natural vegetation is xerophyte, or drought resistant. Trees with small
broad leaves are widely spread & never very tall. Conditions in the Mediterranean do not suit
grass, as most of the rain comes in the cool season when growth is slow.
Tags: Factual
Q17.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● The Walker Circulation is an atmospheric system of airflow in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
The trade winds across the tropical Pacific flow from east to west: air rises above the warm
waters of the western Pacific, flows eastward at high altitudes, and descends over the eastern
Pacific. A weaker Walker circulation (in the reverse direction) occurs over the Indian Ocean.
● It is the atmospheric response to the pressure gradient force that results from a high-pressure
system over the eastern Pacific Ocean and a low-pressure system over Indonesia. So,
● The Walker circulation usually brings areas of high pressure to the western Indian Ocean but, in
years when El Nino occurs, this pattern shifts eastward, bringing high pressure over India and
suppressing the south-west monsoon, especially in spring when the monsoon begins to
develop. So, statement 2 is correct.
Tags: Conceptual
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Q18.
Answer: c
Explanation:
● Tropical cyclones are violent storms that originate over oceans in tropical areas and move over
to the coastal areas bringing about large-scale destruction caused by violent winds, very heavy
rainfall and storm surges. They are known as Cyclones in the Indian Ocean, Hurricanes in the
Atlantic, Typhoons in the Western Pacific and South China Sea, and Willy-willies in Western
Australia.
● Tropical cyclones originate and intensify over warm tropical oceans. The conditions favourable
for the formation and intensification of tropical storms are:
○ Large sea surface with a temperature higher than 27°C. So, point 1 is correct.
○ Presence of the Coriolis force. So, point 2 is not correct.
○ Small variations in the vertical wind speed.
○ A pre-existing weak low-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation. So, point 3 is
correct.
○ Upper divergence above the sea level system. So, point 4 is correct.
So, only three of the above conditions are favourable for the formation and intensification of tropical
cyclones.
Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
Q19.
Answer: c
Explanation:
● Cirrus clouds are short, detached, hair-like clouds found at high altitudes. These delicate clouds
are wispy, with a silky sheen, or look like tufts of hair. In the daytime, they are whiter than any
other cloud in the sky. While the Sun is
setting or rising, they may take on the colours
of the sunset.
Cirrus clouds formation
● Cirrus clouds form from the ascent of dry air,
making the small quantity of water vapour in
the air undergo deposition into ice (to change
from a gas directly into a solid). Cirrus is made
up completely of ice crystals, which provide
their white colour and form in a wide range of
shapes and sizes.
● Cirrus clouds can also form through contrails,
the vapour trails left by planes as they fly
through a dry upper troposphere. These streaks can spread out and become cirrus, cirrostratus
and cirrocumulus.
Tags: Factual
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Q20.
Answer: d
Explanation:
● Planetary or permanent winds blow from high-pressure belts to low-pressure belts in the same
direction throughout the year. They blow over vast areas of continents and oceans. They are
easterly and westerlies and polar easterlies.
● The pattern of planetary winds largely depends on factors such as:
○ Latitudinal variation of atmospheric heating. So, point 4 is correct.
○ Emergence of pressure belts. So, point 3 is correct.
○ Migration of pressure belts following the apparent path of the sun
○ Distribution of continents and oceans. So, point 2 is correct.
○ Rotation of the Earth. So, point 1 is correct.
So, all four of the above factors largely determine the pattern of planetary winds.
Tags: Factual
Q21.
Answer: c
Explanation:
● Option 1 is correct: Fronts exhibit greater prominence in middle latitudes, whereas their
occurrence is less common in lower and polar latitudes.
● Option 2 is correct: Fronts are distinguished by a sharp temperature gradient, leading to sudden
temperature changes that induce upward air movement, resulting in the formation of clouds
and precipitation.
● Option 3 is incorrect: A front induces a rapid alteration in temperature, causing a corresponding
sharp shift in atmospheric pressure.
● Option 4 is correct: Wind direction undergoes a change along a front as it is influenced by the
interplay of pressure gradient and Coriolis force.
● Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.
Q22.
Answer: a
Explanation:
Water vapour present in the air is known as humidity. It is expressed quantitatively in different ways-
Absolute humidity, relative humidity and specific humidity.
● Relative humidity is the most important and reliable measure of atmospheric moisture. It is the
ratio of the amount of water vapour actually in a volume occupied by air to the amount the
space could contain at saturation. The relative humidity increases when the temperature of the
air goes down or when moist air is added to it. The relative humidity decreases when the
temperature of the air increases or when less moist air is added to it. It is greater over the
oceans and least over the continents. So, pair 1 is correctly matched.
● Specific humidity refers to the weight (amount) of water vapour contained in a unit weight
(amount) of air (expressed as grams of water vapour per kilogram of air). It is equal to the mass
of the moisture divided by the mass of air. It is expressed as a dimensionless number (but
sometimes also as grams per kilogram, among other similar units). So, pair 2 is not correctly
matched.
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● The air that contains moisture to its full capacity is known as saturated air. Absolute humidity is
the ratio of the mass of water vapour actually in the air to a unit mass of air, including the
water vapour. It is expressed in grams per cubic metre of air. For example, if the absolute
humidity of air is 10 grams it means that one cubic metre of that air holds 10 grams of moisture
in the form of water vapour. Absolute humidity is variable and changes from place to place and
with changes in time. So, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
So, only one of the above pairs is correctly matched.
Q23.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● As one proceeds from the equator towards the poles, rainfall decreases steadily. The coastal
areas of the world receive greater amounts of rainfall than the interior of the continents. The
rainfall is more over the oceans than on the landmasses of the world because they are great
sources of water. Between the latitudes 35 degrees and 40 degrees North and South of the
equator, the rain is heavier on the eastern coasts and goes on decreasing towards the west.
● But, between 45 degrees and 65 degrees North and South of the equator, due to the
westerlies, the rainfall is first received on the western margins of the continents and it goes on
decreasing towards the east. Wherever mountains run parallel to the coast, the rain is greater
on the coastal plain on the windward side and it decreases towards the leeward side.
Q24.
Answer: c
Explanation:
● A cloudburst is a sudden spell of localised, heavy rainfall. The India Meteorological Department
(IMD) defines cloudburst as the condition where the amount of rainfall over a particular area
exceeds 100 millimetres in an hour. They often result in flash floods and have become
increasingly common from May to September when the southwest monsoon season prevails in
much of the country. So, statement 1 is correct.
● The phenomenon that is responsible for cloudbursts is ‘orographic lift’. It is the process by
which clouds that are already to rain are pushed up by warm air currents. As they reach higher
elevations, the water droplets within the clouds become bigger and new ones are formed.
Lightning within these clouds helps in delaying rainfall. These dense clouds eventually burst,
unable to hold the large volume of moisture. This results in torrential downpours in the
geographical region right below and leads to the overflowing of water bodies in a very short
duration of time.
● The phenomenon is more common in mountainous areas because they offer the terrain for
moisture-laden air to rise swiftly along the mountain slopes. In India, cloudbursts often occur
during the monsoon season. They occur mostly over the Himalayas, the Western Ghats and the
northeastern hill States of India. So, statement 2 is correct.
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Relevance: Intense rain and cloudbursts wreaked havoc on Himachal Pradesh resulting in multiple
landslides across the hill state in 2023.
Tags: Factual
Q25.
Answer: b
Explanation:
Koeppen recognised five major climatic groups, four of them are based on temperature and one on
precipitation.
● The Western Ghats, the Malabar Coast, southern Assam, Lakshadweep and Andaman and the
Nicobar Islands have a tropical monsoon climate. So, points 1 and 2 are correct.
● Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand experience a polar type of climate. So,
point 3 is not correct.
● Karnataka, central Maharashtra, some parts of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh experience the
tropical semi-arid (steppe) climate. So, point 4 is not correct.
So, only two of the above regions in India experience tropical monsoon climate according to the
Koeppen scheme of climatic classification.
Tags: Factual
Q26.
Answer: c
Explanation:
● Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is an eastward moving disturbance of clouds, rainfall, winds,
and pressure. It traverses the planet in the tropics and returns to its initial starting point in 30
to 60 days, on average. So, statement 1 is correct.
● There are a number of ways in which the MJO influences world weather:
○ The enhanced rainfall phase of the MJO can also bring the onset of the monsoon
seasons around the globe. Conversely, the suppressed convection phase can delay the
onset of the monsoon season.
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○ There is evidence that the MJO influences the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.
It does not cause El Nino or La Nina, but it can contribute to the speed of development
and intensity of El Nino and La Nina episodes. The MJO appears to be more active during
neutral and weak ENSO years. So, statement 2 is correct.
○ MJO can cause an anomalous change in the rainfall activity over Kerala. It has both
active and suppressed phases and its strong active phase over the equatorial Indian
Ocean causes anomalous increased rainfall activity.
○ There is also evidence to suggest that the MJO can influence the onset of a Sudden
Stratospheric Warming (SSW) event. So, statement 3 is correct.
○ The MJO creates favourable conditions for tropical cyclone activity, which makes the
MJO important to monitor during the Atlantic hurricane season.
So, all three of the above statements are correct.
Q27.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● The systems developing in the mid and high latitudes, beyond the tropics are called the middle
latitude or extra tropical cyclones. The passage of the front cause’s abrupt changes in the
weather conditions over the area in the middle and high latitudes.
● The processes of wind circulation both at the surface and aloft are closely interlinked. The extra
tropical cyclones have a clear frontal system, which is not present in tropical cyclones. So,
● The extra tropical cyclones cover a larger area and can originate over the land and sea. On the
other hand, tropical cyclones originate only over the seas and on reaching the land they
dissipate. So, statement 2 is not correct.
● The extra tropical cyclone affects a much larger area as compared to the tropical cyclone. The
wind velocity in a tropical cyclone is much higher and it is more destructive. The extra tropical
cyclones move from west to east but tropical cyclones move from east to west in India. So,
So, only one of the above statements is correct.
Tags: Factual
Q28.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● Simoon is located in the Sahara and Arabian Desert. This is a very hot, dry, suffocating and
dust-laden wind that blasts across the African deserts, notably in Arabia, Syria, and neighbouring
countries generated by the extreme heat of the parched deserts or sandy plains. So, pair 1 is not
correctly matched.
● Sirocco is a warm, humid wind occurring over the northern Mediterranean Sea and southern
Europe. The Sirocco causes dusty dry conditions along the northern coast of Africa, storms in
the Mediterranean Sea, and cool wet weather in Europe. So, pair 2 is not correctly matched.
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● Bora is a cold and typically very dry and often gusty katabatic wind from the northeast on the
Adriatic coast of the Balkans. So, pair 3 is correctly matched.
● Pampero is the name for a severe cold line squall that occurs over the Pampas of Argentina and
Uruguay. So, pair 4 is correctly matched.
So, only two of the above pairs are correctly matched.
Tags: Factual
Q29.
Answer: d
Explanation:
The amount and the intensity of insolation vary during a day, in a season and in a year.
The factors that cause these variations in insolation are:
● Rotation of the Earth on its axis: The fact that the Earth’s axis makes an angle of 66.5 degrees
with the plane of its orbit around the Sun has a greater influence on the amount of insolation
received at different latitudes. So, point 1 is correct.
● Angle of inclination of the Sun’s rays: This depends on the latitude of a place. The higher the
latitude the less is the angle they make with the surface of the Earth resulting in slant sun rays.
The area covered by vertical rays is always less than the slant rays. So, point 2 is correct.
● Length of the day
● Transparency of the atmosphere: The atmosphere is largely transparent to shortwave solar
radiation. The incoming solar radiation passes through the atmosphere before striking the
Earth’s surface. Within the troposphere water vapour, ozone and other gases absorb much of
the near infrared radiation. So, point 3 is correct.
● Configuration of land in terms of its aspect: Generally, at the same latitude, the insolation is
more over the continent than over the oceans. So, point 4 is correct.
So, all four of the above factors cause variations in the amount and intensity of insolation during a
day, in a season and a year.
Tags: Factual, Analytical
Q30.
Answer: c
Explanation:
● Normally, temperature decreases with an increase in elevation. It is called the normal lapse rate.
At times, the situation is reversed and the normal lapse rate is inverted. It is called the inversion
of temperature. Inversion is usually of short duration but quite common nonetheless. So,
● A long winter night with clear skies and still air is an ideal situation for inversion of
temperature. The heat of the day is radiated off during the night, and by early morning hours,
the earth is cooler than the air above. Over polar areas, a temperature inversion is normal
throughout the year. So, statement 2 is correct.
Tags: Conceptual
VAJIRAM & RAVI
Q31.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● The insolation received by the earth from the sun is transmitted to the atmospheric layers
through conduction, convection and radiation.
● In convection, the transfer of heat occurs by the movement of a mass or substance from one
place to another. The air in contact with the Earth rises vertically on heating in the form of
currents and further transmits the heat of the atmosphere. The convective transfer of energy is
confined only to the troposphere. So, statement 1 is not correct.
● The transfer of heat through the horizontal movement of air (wind) is called advection. Winds
from warmer regions will increase the temperature of a place on its path. Similarly, the
temperature will fall if the place lies on the path of the winds blowing from cold regions. This
process of horizontal transport of heat by winds is known as advection. So, statement 2 is not
correct.
● In conduction, heat transfer occurs between objects by direct contact. The layers near to the
Earth or the air in contact with the land get heated slowly by direct contact and the upper
layers in contact with the lower layers also get heated. The heat energy flows from the warmer
object to the cooler object. The transfer of heat continues until both the bodies attain the same
temperature or the contact is broken. Therefore, conduction is important in heating the lower
layers of the atmosphere. So, statement 3 is correct.
So, only one of the above statements is correct.
Tags: Conceptual
Q32.
Answer: c
Explanation:
The major hot deserts of the world are located on the western coasts of continents between latitudes
15° and 30°N and S. There are four major factors responsible for the location of the world's tropical
desert on the Western margins of continents:
● Anticyclonic conditions: The areas between 20 °-30 ° latitude on western margins of continents
are the regions of descending air. Because of this, the air gets compressed and warm as it
descends and thus the moisture keeps decreasing leading to scanty rainfall in the region. So,
point 1 is correct.
● Formation of rain-shadow zone: A region in the leeward of mountains that receives less rainfall
than the region windward of the mountains is called a rain-shadow zone. Some of the deserts
like the Patagonian Desert are more due to its rain-shadow position on the leeward side of the
lofty Andes than to continentality. So, point 2 is correct.
● Offshore areas of trade wind: When the moisture-laden trade wind flows from east to west
sheds its moisture on the eastern part and by the time it reaches the western margin, it
becomes dry. These dry winds lead to the formation of the desert and result in poor rainfall in
the region. So, point 3 is not correct.
● Presence of cold ocean currents: The cold ocean currents along the western coast of continents
tends to stabilise the air over the coast. This prevents cloud formation and rainfall. Hence, it
leads to arid conditions or the formation of marine deserts on the adjacent coastal lands. So,
point 4 is correct.
VAJIRAM & RAVI
Subject: Geography | Weather Climate and Atmospheric Circulation
Q33.
Answer: c
Explanation:
● Frost is formed when cool air condenses water vapour, which in turn forms droplets on the
ground and when the surface temperature drops below zero, the moisture on ground freezes
into ice crystals.
○ Air frost occurs when ground-level air temperature is below zero degrees Celsius. So,
○ Ground frost refers to icy deposits on the ground formed when soil moisture freezes.
● A combination of low moisture (dry weather) and clear skies, along with calm winds, creates
ideal conditions for the ground temperature to fall sharply overnight, increasing the chances of
frost. So, statement 1 is correct.
● Low temperature may impose stress on a plant in at least twofold manner:
○ By the effects of low temperature alone, and
○ By dehydration of the cells and tissues when cellular water freezes.
● There are various measures to protect crops from frost—from watering the fields in the
evening to shielding the plants with straw, polythene or gunny bags etc. So, statement 3 is
correct.
● Frost is most prevalent during December and January when minimum temperatures across the
Indo-Gangetic Plains as well as parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh drop to 4°C or less.
Similar conditions are reported in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in the higher reaches of the Nilgiris
hills.
So, all three of the above statements are correct.
Q34.
Answer: c
Explanation:
The most widely used classification of climate is the empirical climate classification scheme developed
by V. Koeppen. Koeppen identified a close relationship between the distribution of vegetation and
climate.
● A tropical wet climate (Af) is found near the equator. The major areas are the Amazon Basin in
South America, western equatorial Africa and the islands of the East Indies. A significant
amount of rainfall occurs every month of the year as thunder showers in the afternoon. The
temperature is uniformly high and the annual range of temperature is negligible. The
maximum temperature on any day is around 30°C while the minimum temperature is around
20°C. Tropical evergreen forests with dense canopy cover and large biodiversity are found in this
climate. So, pair 1 is correctly matched.
● Subtropical steppe (BSh) and subtropical desert (BWh) have common precipitation and
temperature characteristics. Located in the transition zone between humid and dry climates,
the subtropical steppe receives slightly more rainfall than the desert, adequate enough for the
growth of sparse grasslands. The rainfall in both climates is highly variable. So, pair 2 is correctly
matched.
VAJIRAM & RAVI
● The tundra climate (ET) is a type of vegetation, like low-growing mosses, lichens and flowering
plants. This is the region of permafrost where the subsoil is permanently frozen. The short
growing season and water logging support only low-growing plants. During summer, the tundra
regions have a very long duration of daylight. So, pair 3 is correctly matched.
So, all three of the above pairs are correctly matched.
Tags: Factual
Q35.
Answer: c
Explanation:
● Milankovitch cycles are periodic changes in the orbital characteristics of a planet that control
how much sunlight it receives, thus affecting its climate and habitability over hundreds of
thousands of years.
● The tilt of the Earth's axis toward the plane in which the planet orbits affects the angle at
which sunlight strikes different parts of the planet, influencing the amount and intensity of solar
radiation that reaches the surface. So, point 1 is correct.
● The shape and elevation of the Earth's topography can affect local weather patterns and
climate, but they do not affect the amount of sunlight that reaches the atmosphere. So, point 2
is not correct.
● The composition of the Earth's atmosphere affects how much solar radiation is absorbed,
reflected, and scattered by the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide,
methane, and water vapour, trap some of the Sun's energy, warming the Earth's surface and
lower atmosphere. So, point 3 is correct.
● The shape of Earth's orbit around the Sun affects the distance between the Earth and the Sun,
which in turn affects the amount of solar radiation that reaches the planet's surface. The shape
of Earth's orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle but rather an ellipse, which means that the
distance between the Earth and the Sun varies throughout the year. When the Earth is closer to
the Sun (at perihelion), it receives more solar radiation, while when it is farther away (at
aphelion), it receives less solar radiation. This variation in distance due to the elliptical shape of
the orbit is one of the factors that contribute to the Earth's seasonal cycle. So, point 4 is correct.
Q36.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● The velocity and direction of the wind are the net result of the wind generating forces. The
winds in the upper atmosphere, 2 - 3 km above the surface, are free from the frictional effect of
the surface and are controlled mainly by the pressure gradient and the Coriolis force. When
isobars are straight and when there is no friction, the pressure gradient force is balanced by
VAJIRAM & RAVI
the Coriolis force and the resultant wind blows parallel to the isobar. This wind is known as the
geostrophic wind.
● An air parcel initially at rest will move from high pressure to low pressure because of the
Pressure Gradient Force (PGF).
Subject: Geography | Climate Weather and
Atmosphere
Tags: Factual
Q37.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● The Ferrel cell occurs at higher
latitudes (between 30 degrees
and 60 degrees N and 30
degrees and 60 degrees S):
○ Air on the surface is
pulled towards the
poles, forming the warm
south-westerly winds in
the northern
hemisphere and north-
westerly winds in the
southern hemisphere.
○ These winds pick up
moisture as they travel
over the oceans. At
around 60 degrees N and 60 degrees S, they meet cold air, which has drifted from the
poles.
Tags: Factual
Q38.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● The "doldrums" is a popular nautical term that refers to the belt around the Earth near the
equator where sailing ships sometimes get stuck on windless waters.
● Known to sailors around the world as the doldrums, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone is a
belt around the Earth extending approximately five degrees north and south of the equator.
● The prevailing trade winds of the northern hemisphere blow to the southwest and collide with
the southern hemisphere’s driving northwest trade winds.
Tags: Factual
VAJIRAM & RAVI
Q39.
Answer: c
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is correct: By volume, the dry air in Earth's atmosphere is about 78.08 percent
nitrogen, 20.95 percent oxygen, and 0.93 percent argon. A brew of trace gases accounts for the
other approximately 0.04 percent, including the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide, methane,
nitrous oxide and ozone.
● Statement 2 is correct: The troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, and it
contains the majority of the atmosphere's mass. The troposphere extends to an average height
of about 12 kilometers at the poles. The troposphere and stratosphere together make up almost
99.9% of the atmosphere's mass.
Subject: Geography
Tags: Factual
Q40.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● The equatorial climate is found mostly between 5° North and South of the Equator. Its greatest
extent is found in the lowlands of the Amazon, the Congo, Malaysia and the East Indies. The
climate is dominated by maritime tropical air masses (high humidity).
● Temperature is uniform throughout the year with the mean monthly temperature always
around 27°C. There is no winter (typical to equatorial rainforest climate).
● Regular land and sea breezes assist in maintaining a truly equable climate. The diurnal range of
temperature is small and so is the annual range. Precipitation is heavy and well-distributed
throughout the year with heavy thunderstorms occurring almost every day in the afternoons.
There is no month without rain (a distinct dry season is absent).
● It takes decades to restore the lost forests in the equatorial regions because the fertility of
topsoil in rainforest regions is very poor. Torrential downpours wash out most of the topsoil
nutrients. The soil deteriorates rapidly with subsequent soil erosion and soil impoverishment. It
takes decades to replenish the soil of lost nutrients. So, a seed doesn’t usually germinate and
even if it does, its development is hindered due to little availability of sunlight.
Subject: Geography | World Climatic Regions
Tags: Analytical
Q41.
Answer: d
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is incorrect. Land and sea breezes are indeed related to the differential heating of
land and sea, but they are not seasonal rhythms; instead, they are daily phenomena that occur
due to variations in the heating and cooling rates of land and water. Land and sea breezes occur
due to differential heating of land and water surfaces. During the day, land heats up faster,
creating lower pressure than the sea. This temperature contrast induces wind flow from the sea
to the land, known as a sea breeze. At night, as the land cools, the wind direction reverses,
forming a land breeze. These phenomena are driven by convection currents, making them
predictable, local wind patterns.
VAJIRAM & RAVI
● Statement 2 is incorrect. Land breeze blows out from land to sea. Fishermen in the tropics
often take advantage of the land breeze and sail out with it. They return the next morning with
the in-coming sea breeze.
● Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.
Q42.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is incorrect: The temperature decreases with altitude till Troposphere. It remains
nearly constant in Tropopause. Then it starts increasing in stratosphere. Similarly, temperature
decreases with altitude in the Mesosphere and increases in Thermosphere.
● Statement 2 is incorrect: The air temperature at the tropopause is about minus 80oC over the
equator and about minus 45oC over the poles (greater fall in temperature above equator is
because of the greater thickness of troposphere – 18 km).
● Statement 3 is correct: The mesosphere is the third layer of Earth's atmosphere, situated above
the stratosphere and below the thermosphere. In the mesosphere, temperature decreases with
an increase in altitude. This temperature trend is primarily due to the decreasing density of air
molecules as one moves higher in the atmosphere. Unlike the stratosphere, where temperature
increases with altitude due to the presence of the ozone layer, the mesosphere doesn't have a
significant heat-absorbing component.
Q43.
Answer: c
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is correct: Different places on the earth’s surface receive different amounts of
rainfall in a year and that too in different seasons. In general, as we proceed from the equator
towards the poles, rainfall goes on decreasing steadily.
● A continental climate has characteristics associated with areas within a continental interior as
opposed to coastal locations under the moderating influence of water. Among the most
significant of these climatic properties are large annual temperature ranges, which can be
attributed to the distinctive thermal differences between land and water. water has a high
specific heat causing it to cool and heat slowly. Conversely, land has a low specific heat (five to
six times less than that of water) causing it to cool and heat faster than water. Hence,
Statement 2 is correct.
● Therefore, option (c) is correct.
Q44.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● Option b is correct: Deposition is a phase transition process where a gas (vapor) transforms
directly into a solid, bypassing the liquid phase transition. This thermodynamic phenomenon is
distinct from sublimation, the reverse process, wherein a solid transform directly into a gas
(vapor) without undergoing the liquid phase transition. Occasionally, deposition is referred to
as desublimation due to its nature of skipping the liquid phase in the transition from gas to
solid.
● Sublimation is most often used to describe the process of snow and ice changing into water
vapor in the air without first melting into water. The process of changing/turning vapour [Gases]
directly into the ice [Solid] is called desublimation or Deposition.
VAJIRAM & RAVI
Q45.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● El Nino, as is commonly known, refers to an abnormal warming of surface waters in equatorial
Pacific Ocean. It is known to suppress monsoon rainfall. The opposite phase, La Nina, which is
the abnormal cooling of sea surface waters in the same region, is known to aid rainfall over
India. Hence, Statement 1 is incorrect.
● El Nino is often associated with reduced rainfall in eastern Australia, leading to drought
conditions. The warming of Pacific waters disrupts normal atmospheric circulation patterns,
resulting in decreased moisture availability and rainfall. Similar to Australia, Indonesia often
experiences drier-than-normal conditions during El Niño. Reduced rainfall can lead to drought,
affecting water supply for agriculture and communities. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
● El Nino disrupts the usual upwelling of nutrient-rich waters along the west coast of South
America. In normal conditions, there is strong upwelling, but during El Niño, the warming of sea
surface temperatures suppresses this process, impacting marine ecosystems and fisheries.
Hence, Statement 3 is incorrect.
● Therefore, Option (b) is the correct Answer.
Q46.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● Heat waves occurs mainly during March to June and in some rare cases even in July. The peak
month of the heat wave over India is May. In the extra tropical countries, heat wave is
considered as the period of abnormally hot and dry weather or when it is uncomfortably hot
due to humidity. Heat wave is a condition of air temperature which becomes fatal to human
body when exposed. Quantitatively, it is defined based on the temperature thresholds over a
region in terms of actual temperature or its departure from normal. In certain countries it is
defined in term of the heat index based on temperature and humidity or based on extreme
percentile of the temperatures.
VAJIRAM & RAVI
● Statement 1 is incorrect: To be termed as heat wave, it should last at least more than a day
over the area. However, conventionally heat wave lasts for several days to several weeks
depending on the prevailing weather conditions
● Heat wave is considered if maximum temperature of a station reaches at least 40-degree C or
more for Plains and at least 30-degree C or more for Hilly regions.
● Based on Departure from Normal
○ Heat Wave: Departure from normal is 4.5-degree C to 6.4-degree C
○ Severe Heat Wave: Departure from normal is >6.4-degree C
● Based on Actual Maximum Temperature
○ Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥ 45-degree C
○ Severe Heat Wave: When actual maximum temperature ≥47-degree C
● If above criteria met at least in 2 stations in a Meteorological sub-division for at least two
consecutive days and it declared on the second day.
● Statement 2 is correct: The amount of heat and humidity that people can tolerate is one of the
most critical hard limits of the effects of a heatwave. This is measured by the scientists using the
wet-bulb temperature, which is the greatest temperature at which water will not evaporate in a
given quantity of humidity. It acts as a proxy for how efficiently the human body can regulate its
temperature. The highest acceptable wet-bulb temperature for humans is 35 °C (95 °F) for six
hours. Above that point, even healthy people begin to develop serious, often deadly health
problems.
Q47.
Answer: d
Explanation:
Cold wave conditions prevail during winter months when frigid air moves from higher latitudes,
propelled by well-defined low-pressure systems in the west-to-east flow of mid-latitude westerly winds.
In the aftermath of these systems, north westerly/south-westerly winds bring cold air masses, causing
temperatures to sharply drop below normal. Occasionally, daytime fog inhibits warming, prolonging cold
wave conditions. Clear night time skies further intensify cooling through unobstructed radiation,
creating favourable conditions for the development and persistence of cold waves. Key factors include
● The influx of cold air from higher latitudes,
● Daytime fog hindering warming, and
● Strong night time radiation cooling under clear skies.
Q48.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is incorrect: El Niño is a warm ocean current that occasionally replaces the cold
Peru Current along the western coast of South America.
● Statement 2 is correct: The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) is the largest element of the
intraseasonal (30- to 90-day) variability in the tropical atmosphere. It is a large-scale coupling
between atmospheric circulation and tropical deep atmospheric convection. Unlike a standing
pattern like the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Madden–Julian oscillation is a traveling
pattern that propagates eastward, at approximately 4 to 8 m/s, through the atmosphere above
the warm parts of the Indian and Pacific oceans. This overall circulation pattern manifests itself
most clearly as anomalous rainfall. The Madden-Julian Oscillation is characterised by an
VAJIRAM & RAVI
eastward spread of large regions of enhanced and suppressed tropical rainfall, mainly
observed over the Indian and Pacific Ocean.
● Statement 3 is incorrect: The Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) is a low-pressure zone
located at the equator where trade winds converge. It is a zone where air tends to ascend.
● Statement 4 is incorrect: The event is associated with the pressure condition in the Central
Pacific and Australia. This change in Pressure is known as southern oscillation. The combined
phenomenon of El-Nino and southern oscillation is known as the ENSO, El-Nino Southern
Oscillation.
Q49.
Answer: b
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is incorrect: The air at the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) rises, and not
subsides because of convection caused by high insolation and a low pressure is created.
● The winds from the tropics converge at this low-pressure zone. The converged air rises along
with the convective cell.
● Statement 2 is incorrect: Trade winds are the winds that flow from subtropical high-pressure
belts to equatorial low-pressure belts. Westerlies are winds that flow from subtropical high-
pressure belts to subpolar/circumpolar low-pressure belts. Both are permanent winds. The
intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) is an east-west-oriented low-pressure region near the
equator where the surface northeast and southeast trade winds meet.
● Statement 3 is correct: The ITCZ's mean position is north of the equator for a few reasons:
○ Landmass: The Northern Hemisphere has more landmass than the Southern
Hemisphere, and land heats up faster than water.
○ Energy transport: The Atlantic Ocean transports energy northward across the equator,
making the Northern Hemisphere warmer than the Southern Hemisphere.
○ Coastal geometry: The bulge of western Africa and the slope of the western coast of the
Americas relative to meridians favour the Northern Hemisphere with the warmest
waters.
Q50.
Answer: a
Explanation:
● Statement 1 is correct: The polar vortex is a large area of low pressure and cold air surrounding
both of the Earth’s poles. It always exists near the poles, but weakens in summer and
strengthens in winter. The term "vortex" refers to the anti-clockwise flow of air that helps keep
the colder air near the Poles.
● Statement 2 is incorrect. Normally, when the vortex is strong and healthy, it helps to keep a
current of air (the jet stream) travelling around the globe in almost a circular path. This current
keeps the cold air up north and warm air down south. When the vortex becomes weak there is a
lack of a strong low-pressure system, resulting in jet stream losing the hold to keep it in line, and
becoming wavy and all of a sudden, a river of cold air is pushed down south.
● Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

GT-02 Explanation

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GT-02 Explanation

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VAJIRAM & RAVI

Institute for IAS Examination

PRELIMS CAMP 2024

Answer Key – Prelims CAMP GT-02-Geography (06-01-2024)

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

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