9. UPSC Previous Years’ Prelims Questions on Climate

1. La Nina is suspected to have caused recent floods in Australia. How is La Nina different from El Nino?

1. La Nina is characterised by unusually cold ocean temperature in equatorial Indian Ocean whereas El Nino is characterised by unusually warm ocean temperature in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

2. El Nino has adverse effect on south-west monsoon of India, but La Nina has no effect on monsoon climate.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2011)

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only

2. With reference to India, which one of the following statements is not correct? (2002)

(a) About one-third of the area of the country records more than 750 millimetres of annual rainfall

(b) The dominant source of irrigation in the country is wells

(d) The mountain areas account for about thirty percent of the surface area of the country

3. The jet aircrafts fly very easily and smoothly in the lower stratosphere. What could be the appropriate explanation? (2011)

1. There are no clouds or water vapour in the lower stratosphere.

2. There are no vertical winds in the lower stratosphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct in this context?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only

4. The average annual temperature of a meteorological station is 260C, its average annual rainfall is 63 cm and the annual range to temperature is 90C. The station in question is (2002).

(a) Allahabad (b) Chennai

5. If there were no Himalayan ranges, what would have been the most likely geographical impact on India?

1. Much of the country would experience the cold waves from Siberia.

2. Indo-gangetic plain would be devoid of such extensive alluvial soils.

3. The pattern of monsoon would be different from what it is at present. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (2010)

(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 3 only