QUIZ – 2020: INSIGHTS STATIC , 21 December 2020 – Geography

Solution: d)

Factors Influencing South-West Monsoon Formation

• The differential heating and cooling of land and watercreates a low pressure on the landmass of India while the seas around experience comparatively high pressure.
• The shift of the position of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)in summer, over the Ganga plain (this is the equatorial trough normally positioned about 5°N of the equator. It is also known as the monsoon-trough during the monsoon season).
• The presence of the high-pressure area, east of Madagascar, approximately at 20°S over the Indian Ocean. The intensity and position of this high-pressure area affect the Indian Monsoon.
• The Tibetan plateau gets intensely heated during summer, which results in strong vertical air currents and the formation of low pressure over the plateau at about 9 km above sea level.
• The movement of the westerly jet stream to the north of the Himalayas and the presence of the tropical easterly jet stream over the Indian peninsula during summer.

Solution: b)

Winter monsoons do not cause rainfall as they move from land to the sea. It is because firstly, they have little humidity; and secondly, due to anti cyclonic circulation on land, the possibility of rainfall from them reduces. So, most parts of India do not have rainfall in the winter season. However, there are some exceptions to it:

• In northwestern India, some weak temperate cyclones from the Mediterranean sea cause rainfall in Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh.
• During October and November, northeast monsoon while crossing over the Bay of Bengal, picks up moisture and causes torrential rainfall over the Tamil Nadu coast, southern Andhra Pradesh, southeast Karnataka and southeast Kerala.

Solution: b)

Savannah climate:

• This type of climate has alternate wet and dry seasons. There are Only two seasons – winter and summer. Rains occur in summer. Due to distinct wet and dry periods, many Savanna areas have poor lateritic soils which are incapable of supporting good crops.
• Many tribes live in savanna region. Tribes like the Masai tribes of the East African plateau are pastoralists whereas Hausa of northern Nigeria are settled cultivators.

Solution: c)

In summer and winter, water across layers of lake hardly mixes. So, either the upper layer or deep water is cold or warm. Hence, there is little churning of oxygen and nutrients due to this large temperature difference.

But, due to similar water temperatures at both surface and under water in autumn and spring, water tends to mix. This mixing facilitates better nutrient availability in all layers increasing productivity of lakes.

Solution: d)

Earth’s tilted axis causes the seasons. Throughout the year, different parts of Earth receive the Sun’s most direct rays. So, when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere. And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere.