UPSC STATIC QUIZ – Geography : 20 May 2024

Solution: c)

Africa is the second largest continent after Asia.

The Equator or 0 degrees latitude runs almost through the middle of the continent. A large part of Africa lies in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the only continent through which the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn pass.

Australia is the smallest continent that lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. It is surrounded on all sides by the oceans and seas. It is called an island continent

Solution: b)

Statement 2 is incorrect.

All waters in nature, whether rain water or ocean water, contain dissolved mineral salts. Salinity is the term used to define the total content of dissolved salts in sea water. It is calculated as the amount of salt (in gm) dissolved in 1,000 gm (1 kg) of seawater. It is usually expressed as parts per thousand (o/oo) or ppt. Salinity is an important property of sea water.

In the land locked Red Sea, salinity is as high as 41o/oo, while in the estuaries and the Arctic, the salinity fluctuates from 0 – 35 o/oo, seasonally.

The salinity variation in the Pacific Ocean is mainly due to its shape and larger areal extent.

The highest salinity is recorded between 15° and 20° latitudes.

Maximum salinity (37 o/oo) is observed between 20° N and 30° N and 20° W – 60° W. It gradually decreases towards the north.

Solution: b)

The Nordic countries are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic. It includes the sovereign states of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden; the autonomous territories of the Faroe Islands and Greenland; and the autonomous region of Åland.

Solution: d)

Solution: a)

• Annual range of temperature is relatively low in larger ocean.
• Annual range of temperature is relatively high in Northern hemisphere due to continental influence (Large land area in Northern hemisphere w.r.t southern hemisphere).