Question 1

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: The annual variation in solar output due to the Earth's elliptical orbit does not have a great effect on daily weather changes on the Earth's surface.
Statement II: The Earth is at perihelion on 3rd January, receiving slightly more annual insolation than at aphelion on 4th July.
Statement III: The effect of the variation in solar output is significantly masked by the differential distribution of land and sea and by atmospheric circulation.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement III is the correct explanation for Statement I.. Statement I is correct as the text states that the variation in solar output 'does not have great effect on daily weather changes on the surface of the earth.' Statement II is also a correct factual statement, noting that insolation is slightly more during perihelion (Jan 3rd). However, it only describes the phenomenon, it does not explain why its effect is minimal. Statement III is the correct explanation for Statement I because it provides the causal reason, stating that the effect 'is masked by other factors like the distribution of land and sea and the atmospheric circulation.' Therefore, Statement III correctly explains Statement I.

Question 2

Consider the following statements regarding the variability of insolation at the Earth's surface:
1. The configuration of land in terms of its aspect has a greater influence on insolation received than the length of the day.
2. The Earth's axial tilt of 66.5° with the plane of its orbit is a major determinant of the amount of insolation received at different latitudes.
3. The transparency of the atmosphere is considered a factor with less influence on the variation of insolation compared to the angle of inclination of the sun's rays.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. The text lists five factors and explicitly states that the last two, including 'the configuration of land', have 'less influence'. The length of the day is listed as a primary factor, not a lesser one. Statement 2 is correct. The text highlights that the Earth’s axis making an angle of 66½° with its orbital plane 'has a greater influence on the amount of insolation received at different latitudes.' Statement 3 is correct. The text lists 'the angle of inclination of the sun’s rays' as a primary factor, while noting that 'the transparency of the atmosphere' has 'less influence'. Therefore, only two statements (2 and 3) are correct.

Question 3

Consider the following rows regarding Earth's position and solar radiation:
Row 1: Aphelion - Earth is nearest to the sun (147 million km) on 4th July.
Row 2: Perihelion - Earth is farthest from the sun (152 million km) on 3rd January.
Row 3: Average Insolation - The Earth receives 1.94 calories per sq. cm per minute at the top of its atmosphere.
In how many of the above rows is the given information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Row 1 is incorrectly matched. Aphelion is the position where the Earth is farthest from the sun (152 million km), not nearest. Row 2 is incorrectly matched. Perihelion is the position where the Earth is nearest to the sun (147 million km), not farthest. The definitions of distance have been swapped. Row 3 is correctly matched. The text states, 'On an average the earth receives 1.94 calories per sq. cm per minute at the top of its atmosphere.' Therefore, only one row is correctly matched.

Question 4

Consider the following statements regarding the spatial distribution of insolation:
1. The highest insolation is received over the equatorial belt due to the direct incidence of the sun's rays throughout the year.
2. At any given latitude, the insolation received at the surface is generally higher over the oceans compared to the continents.
3. The amount of insolation received at the surface varies from about 320 Watt/m² at the poles to about 70 Watt/m² in the tropics.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

None. All three statements are incorrect.
- Statement 1 is incorrect. Maximum insolation is received over the subtropical deserts where cloudiness is minimal, not the equatorial belt. Due to persistent cloud cover, the equator actually receives less insolation than the tropics.
- Statement 2 is incorrect. At the same latitude, insolation is generally higher over continents than over oceans.
- Statement 3 is incorrect. The values and locations are swapped. The insolation received at the surface is approximately 320 Watt/m² in the tropics and decreases to about 70 Watt/m² at the poles.

Question 5

Consider the following statements regarding the global distribution of temperature in January:
1. In the Northern Hemisphere, isotherms generally deviate to the south over the oceans and to the north over the continents.
2. The influence of land masses and ocean currents on isotherm patterns is more pronounced in January than in July, especially in the Northern Hemisphere.
3. In the Southern Hemisphere, isotherms are more regular, running largely parallel to the latitudes with a gradual temperature gradient.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statements 2 and 3 are correct, while statement 1 is incorrect. Therefore, only two statements are correct.
- Statement 1 is incorrect. It reverses the actual pattern. In January in the Northern Hemisphere, the colder land masses cause isotherms to bend southwards over continents, while the relatively warmer oceans, influenced by currents like the Gulf Stream, cause isotherms to deviate northwards over the ocean.
- Statement 2 is correct. The significant temperature contrast between the large land masses and oceans in the Northern Hemisphere during winter (January) leads to more pronounced deviations in isotherms compared to summer (July).
- Statement 3 is correct. The Southern Hemisphere is ocean-dominated, leading to a moderating effect on temperatures. This results in isotherms that are more regular, more parallel to the latitudes, and exhibit a more gradual change in temperature.

Question 6

Consider the following statements:
Statement I: In January, isotherms in the Northern Hemisphere deviate significantly, bending southwards over continents and northwards over oceans.
Statement II: The deviation is primarily because land masses cool down much more rapidly than oceans in winter, while warm ocean currents like the North Atlantic Drift moderate temperatures over the sea.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I.. Statement I is factually correct. During the Northern Hemisphere's winter (January), continents lose heat faster and become colder than the surrounding oceans. This causes the lines of equal temperature (isotherms) to bend southwards over landmasses. Conversely, oceans retain heat, and warm currents like the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift further moderate temperatures, causing isotherms to bend northwards over the ocean. Statement II correctly identifies these two causal factors: the rapid cooling of land (continentality) and the warming effect of ocean currents. Since these factors directly cause the isotherm pattern described in Statement I, Statement II is the correct explanation for Statement I.

Question 7

Consider the following statements regarding the spatial distribution of temperature and insolation:
1. The highest annual range of temperature, exceeding 60°C, is found over the north-eastern part of the Eurasian continent.
2. In the Southern Hemisphere, the isotherm of 0°C runs approximately parallel to the 60°S latitude.
3. The equatorial belt receives the maximum possible insolation at the Earth's surface due to the direct angle of the sun's rays throughout the year.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. The extreme continentality of the north-eastern Eurasian landmass leads to very hot summers and extremely cold winters, resulting in the highest annual temperature range, which exceeds 60°C. Statement 2 is correct. The text specifies that in the Southern Hemisphere, the isotherms are more or less parallel to the latitudes, and the isotherm of 0°C runs parallel to the 60°S latitude. Statement 3 is incorrect. While the sun's rays are direct at the equator, persistent cloud cover significantly reduces the amount of insolation reaching the surface. The maximum insolation is actually received over the subtropical deserts, where cloudiness is minimal. Therefore, the equatorial belt does not receive the maximum insolation. Since two statements are correct, the correct option is (b).

Question 8

Consider the following pairs regarding the global distribution of temperature:
1. North-eastern Eurasian Continent : Highest annual temperature range (>60°C)
2. 20° S to 15° N latitude belt : Lowest annual temperature range (~3°C)
3. 60° S latitude : Isotherm of 0°C runs parallel to it
4. 40° N latitude : Isotherm of 10°C runs along it in July
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

All four pairs. All four pairs are correctly matched. Pair 1 is correct; the highest annual temperature range, exceeding 60°C, is found over the north-eastern part of the Eurasian continent due to extreme continentality. Pair 2 is correct; the lowest annual temperature range, approximately 3°C, is observed in the equatorial and tropical belt between 20° S and 15° N, a region moderated by large ocean bodies and consistent insolation. Pair 3 is correct; in the Southern Hemisphere, the dominance of the ocean surface leads to isotherms running more or less parallel to latitudes, with the 0°C isotherm aligning with the 60° S latitude. Pair 4 is correct; during the Northern Hemisphere's summer in July, the 10°C isotherm typically runs along the 40° N latitude.

Question 9

Consider the following statements regarding the distribution of temperature:
Statement I: In January, isotherms over the Northern Hemisphere show significant deviation, bending northwards over the ocean and southwards over the continents.
Statement II: The larger landmass in the Northern Hemisphere and the influence of warm ocean currents like the North Atlantic Drift are the primary reasons for this pronounced deviation of isotherms from the latitudinal parallels.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above two statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement I and Statement II are correct and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I.. Statement I accurately describes the observed pattern of isotherms in the Northern Hemisphere during its winter. The lines of equal temperature are pushed poleward (north) over warmer oceans and equatorward (south) over colder continents. Statement II correctly identifies the two main causes for this pattern. First, the vast continental landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere cool down sharply in winter (continentality), forcing isotherms south. Second, warm ocean currents, specifically the Gulf Stream and its extension, the North Atlantic Drift, transport heat poleward, causing isotherms to bend north over the ocean. Therefore, Statement II provides the correct causal explanation for Statement I.

Question 10

With reference to the Earth's heat budget, consider the following statements, assuming total insolation at the top of the atmosphere is 100 units: 1. The amount of radiation reflected from the top of clouds is more than thirteen times the amount reflected from snow and ice-covered areas. 2. Of the total terrestrial radiation emitted by the Earth's surface, the portion absorbed by the atmosphere is exactly double the portion that is radiated directly to space. 3. The total energy absorbed by the atmosphere from both insolation and terrestrial radiation is less than the total energy absorbed by the Earth's surface. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

All three. Statement 1 is correct. The text specifies that 27 units are reflected from clouds and 2 units are reflected from snow and ice-covered areas. The ratio is 27:2, which is 13.5:1. Since 13.5 is greater than 13, the statement is correct. Statement 2 is correct. The Earth radiates 51 units as terrestrial radiation. Of this, 17 units are radiated directly to space, and 34 units are absorbed by the atmosphere. The ratio of atmospheric absorption to direct radiation to space is 34:17, which is exactly 2:1. Thus, the portion absorbed is exactly double. Statement 3 is correct. The atmosphere absorbs 14 units from incoming insolation and 34 units from outgoing terrestrial radiation, for a total of 48 units. The Earth's surface absorbs 51 units. Since 48 is less than 51, the statement is correct. As all three statements are correct, the answer is 'All three'.

Question 11

Consider the following statements: Statement I: The troposphere is heated primarily and directly by incoming shortwave solar radiation. Statement II: The Earth, after being heated by insolation, becomes a radiating body and emits longwave radiation, which is then absorbed by atmospheric gases, heating the atmosphere from below. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement I is incorrect but Statement II is correct.. Statement I is incorrect. The text clarifies that the atmosphere is largely transparent to incoming shortwave radiation and is heated 'indirectly'. The primary heating mechanism is from below, via terrestrial radiation. The text states, 'the atmosphere is indirectly heated by the earth’s radiation.' Statement II is correct. It accurately describes the process of terrestrial radiation. The text says, 'The earth after being heated itself becomes a radiating body and it radiates energy to the atmosphere in long wave form. This energy heats up the atmosphere from below.' This longwave radiation is absorbed by greenhouse gases. Therefore, Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is a correct description of the atmospheric heating process.

Question 12

Consider the following rows regarding the components of Earth's heat budget (out of 100 units of insolation):
Row 1: Reflected by clouds : 27 units
Row 2: Absorbed by atmosphere from insolation : 14 units
Row 3: Radiated to space directly from Earth's surface : 19 units
Row 4: Absorbed by atmosphere through convection and turbulence : 9 units
In how many of the above rows is the information correctly matched?

Accepted Answer

Only three rows. Row 1 is correct. Of the 35 units of insolation reflected back to space (albedo), 27 units are reflected from the top of the clouds. Row 2 is correct. Of the 65 units of insolation absorbed, 14 units are absorbed directly within the atmosphere. Row 3 is incorrect. The Earth's surface radiates 17 units directly to space. The value of 19 units corresponds to the heat absorbed by the atmosphere as latent heat of condensation, not direct radiation to space. Row 4 is correct. The atmosphere absorbs 34 units of terrestrial radiation, of which 9 units are transferred through convection and turbulence. Therefore, three rows (1, 2, and 4) are correctly matched.

Question 13

Consider the following statements regarding the processes of atmospheric heating:
1. The process of heat transfer through the vertical movement of air currents is primarily confined to the troposphere.
2. In the middle latitudes, diurnal weather variations are predominantly caused by the process of conduction.
3. The 'loo' winds experienced in northern India during the summer are a manifestation of heat transfer through advection.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. Convection is the vertical transfer of heat by rising air currents, and this process is largely confined to the troposphere. Statement 2 is incorrect. In the middle latitudes, diurnal weather variations are mainly caused by advection (horizontal air movement), not conduction. Conduction is significant only for heating the lowest layers of air in direct contact with the Earth's surface. Statement 3 is correct. Advection is the transfer of heat through horizontal air movement. The hot 'loo' winds in northern India are a prime example of this process. Since statements 1 and 3 are correct, the correct option is 'Only two'.

Question 14

Consider the following statements regarding the factors that control temperature distribution:
1. The atmosphere is primarily and directly heated by terrestrial radiation originating from the Earth's surface.
2. The normal lapse rate indicates that for every 1,000 meters of ascent, the temperature generally increases by 6.5°C.
3. Coastal areas experience a moderating effect on temperature because land heats up and cools down much more slowly than the sea.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is correct. The lower atmosphere is heated primarily by longwave terrestrial radiation emitted from the Earth's surface after it has been warmed by solar insolation. This process is described as the atmosphere being indirectly heated by the sun, but directly by the Earth's surface radiation. Statement 2 is incorrect. It misrepresents the normal lapse rate. Temperature generally *decreases* with increasing altitude, it does not increase. The rate of decrease is 6.5°C per 1,000 m. Statement 3 is incorrect. It reverses the thermal properties of land and sea. Land heats up and cools down quickly, whereas the sea heats up and loses heat slowly. This differential heating is what creates the moderating effect on coastal temperatures; the reason provided in the statement is factually inverted. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 15

Consider the following statements regarding the phenomenon of Temperature Inversion:
1. The ideal atmospheric conditions for its formation include a long winter night with a dense cloud cover and strong winds.
2. It promotes atmospheric stability, leading to the collection and horizontal spread of pollutants like smoke and dust near the surface.
3. Temperature inversion is a normal and persistent condition throughout the year over equatorial and tropical landmasses.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. The ideal conditions for temperature inversion are clear skies, which allow for rapid longwave radiation from the surface, and still air, which prevents the mixing of colder surface air with warmer air above. The statement presents the opposite conditions. Statement 2 is correct. During an inversion, a layer of cool, dense air is trapped below a layer of warmer air. This stable condition prevents vertical mixing, causing pollutants like smoke and dust to be trapped and spread horizontally near the ground. Statement 3 is incorrect. This is a spatial error. While inversions can occur in many places, they are a normal and persistent feature over polar areas throughout the year, not equatorial or tropical regions. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 16

Consider the following conditions and phenomena associated with Temperature Inversion:
1. Ideal conditions include a long winter night, cloudy skies, and turbulent air.
2. In mountainous regions, it occurs when cold air from slopes accumulates in valley bottoms, which can protect plants from frost damage.
3. It promotes atmospheric stability, leading to the horizontal spread of pollutants and the formation of dense fogs.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is incorrect. The ideal conditions for temperature inversion are a long winter night with clear skies and still air. Clear skies permit rapid radiational cooling of the earth's surface, and still air prevents the mixing of warmer upper air with the cooler surface air. Cloudy skies and turbulent air would hinder the formation of an inversion layer. Statement 2 is correct. In mountainous terrain, this phenomenon, known as air drainage, occurs when colder, denser air from the slopes flows down under gravity and settles in the valley bottoms, displacing warmer air upwards. This layer of cold air at the bottom can protect plants from frost. Statement 3 is correct. Temperature inversion creates a highly stable atmospheric condition by placing a layer of warm air over cold air. This stability traps pollutants like smoke and dust, causing them to spread horizontally beneath the inversion layer, and leads to the formation of dense ground-level fog as moisture condenses in the cold, trapped air. Therefore, only two statements are correct.

Question 17

Consider the following factors that influence the temperature of air at any given place:
1. The latitude of the place
2. The altitude of the place
3. The longitude of the place
4. Distance from the sea
5. The presence of warm and cold ocean currents
How many of the above factors are listed as primary controls of temperature distribution?

Accepted Answer

Only four. Statement 1 is correct. Temperature varies with latitude because the amount of insolation received at the Earth's surface decreases from the equator towards the poles. Statement 2 is correct. Temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude at a normal lapse rate of 6.5°C per 1,000 meters, as the atmosphere is primarily heated by terrestrial radiation from below. Statement 3 is incorrect. Longitude determines the time of day, but it is not considered a primary factor controlling the spatial distribution of temperature in the same way as latitude or altitude. Statement 4 is correct. Proximity to large water bodies (seas/oceans) has a moderating effect on temperature, leading to smaller diurnal and annual temperature ranges compared to inland locations. Statement 5 is correct. Coastal areas influenced by warm ocean currents experience higher temperatures than they otherwise would, while areas influenced by cold currents experience cooler temperatures. Therefore, only four of the listed factors are primary controls.

Question 18

With reference to the Earth's position during the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice, consider the following statements:
1. The sun's rays are perpendicular, forming a 90° angle, at the Tropic of Cancer.
2. The angle of the sun's rays at the Arctic Circle is greater than the angle of the sun's rays at the Tropic of Capricorn.
3. The entire region south of the Antarctic Circle experiences a day length of exactly 12 hours.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. During the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth's axial tilt causes the sun to be directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N), resulting in perpendicular rays (90° angle). Statement 2 is correct. The angle of the sun's rays at the Arctic Circle is given as 47°, while at the Tropic of Capricorn it is 43°. Therefore, 47° is greater than 43°. Statement 3 is incorrect. During the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice, the region south of the Antarctic Circle is tilted furthest away from the sun, resulting in 24 hours of darkness, not a 12-hour day. Thus, only two statements are correct.

Question 19

Regarding the Earth's heat budget, consider the following statements:
1. The atmosphere absorbs more energy from outgoing terrestrial longwave radiation than it does from incoming solar shortwave radiation.
2. The single largest component of the Earth's albedo is the energy reflected by clouds.
3. More than half of the total energy transferred from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere via terrestrial radiation is accounted for by the latent heat of condensation.
How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

All three. Statement 1 is correct. The atmosphere absorbs 34 units of outgoing longwave radiation from the Earth, which is significantly more than the 14 units of incoming shortwave radiation it absorbs directly from the sun. Statement 2 is correct. The total albedo is 35 units. Of this, clouds reflect 27 units, scattered radiation accounts for 6 units, and the Earth's surface reflects 2 units. Clearly, 27 units from clouds is the largest single component. Statement 3 is correct. The total energy absorbed by the atmosphere from the Earth's surface (terrestrial radiation) is 34 units. The latent heat of condensation accounts for 19 of these units. Since 19 is more than half of 34 (which is 17), the statement is correct. Therefore, all three statements are correct.

Question 20

Consider the following statements:
Statement-I: The Earth's atmospheric and oceanic circulations are primarily driven by a net transfer of heat from lower to higher latitudes.
Statement-II: There is a net radiation surplus in the latitudinal zone between approximately 40°N and 40°S, and a net radiation deficit poleward of this zone.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.. Statement-I is correct. Global circulation patterns in the atmosphere and oceans exist to redistribute thermal energy across the planet. Statement-II is also correct. Due to the curvature of the Earth, incoming solar radiation is concentrated in the tropics, leading to an energy surplus, while the poles receive less energy, leading to a deficit. The boundary for this surplus/deficit is around 40° latitude. Statement-II provides the fundamental reason for the phenomenon described in Statement-I. The imbalance of energy (surplus in tropics, deficit at poles) creates a thermal gradient that the circulatory systems (wind and ocean currents) work to balance by transporting heat poleward. Therefore, Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

Question 21

With reference to the global distribution of surface air temperature in January, consider the following statements: 1. The Thermal Equator, connecting the warmest locations, is located almost entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. 2. The influence of the warm North Atlantic Drift causes the 0°C isotherm to be deflected significantly southward over the eastern Atlantic Ocean. 3. The coldest regions, with temperatures below -25°C, are located over the continental interiors of Northeast Asia and not at the geographic North Pole. How many of the statements given above are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. In January, the Southern Hemisphere experiences summer. Consequently, the Thermal Equator, which connects the points of highest temperature, lies almost entirely south of the geographic equator. The statement incorrectly places it in the Northern Hemisphere. Statement 2 is incorrect. The warm North Atlantic Drift is an ocean current that brings warmer water to the North Atlantic. This has a warming effect, causing the 0°C isotherm to be deflected far to the north over the ocean, not southward. The statement incorrectly describes the direction of deflection. Statement 3 is correct. Due to extreme continentality, the landmasses in the Northern Hemisphere become intensely cold in winter. The 'cold pole' is located over the continental interior of Northeast Siberia, which is significantly colder than the geographic North Pole, which is over the relatively warmer Arctic Ocean. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 22

With reference to the global distribution of surface air temperature in January, consider the following statements: 1. The Thermal Equator, connecting the warmest locations, is situated almost entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. 2. The coldest regions, with temperatures below -25°C, are located over the continental interiors of Northeast Asia. 3. The 0°C isotherm is deflected equatorward over the North Atlantic Ocean, illustrating the cooling effect of the ocean in winter. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only one. Statement 1 is incorrect. In January, the Southern Hemisphere experiences summer, so the warmest locations and thus the Thermal Equator lie almost entirely south of the geographic equator. Statement 2 is correct. Due to extreme continentality, the coldest regions in January are found over the continental interiors of Northeast Siberia, not at the geographic North Pole. Statement 3 is incorrect. The 0°C isotherm is deflected sharply poleward (north) over the North Atlantic Ocean. This is due to the warming influence of the warm North Atlantic Drift, not a cooling effect. Therefore, only one statement is correct.

Question 23

Consider the following statements regarding the distribution of surface air temperature in July: 1. The Thermal Equator shifts significantly north of the geographic equator. 2. Isotherms in the Southern Hemisphere are more regular and run more parallel to latitudes compared to those in the Northern Hemisphere. 3. The 30°C isotherm forms a continuous, unbroken belt that stretches from North Africa to Southwest Asia. How many of the above statements are correct?

Accepted Answer

Only two. Statement 1 is correct. During the Northern Hemisphere's summer in July, the zone of maximum heating shifts north, causing the Thermal Equator to be located far north of the geographic equator. Statement 2 is correct. The Southern Hemisphere experiences winter in July. Over the large, uniform ocean surfaces of the Southern Hemisphere, there is less differential heating, causing isotherms to be more regular and parallel to the latitudes. Statement 3 is incorrect. The 30°C isotherm does not form a continuous belt. Instead, it forms large, distinct closed loops over the heated continental landmasses of North Africa, the Middle East, and Southwest Asia. Therefore, only two statements are correct.

Question 24

Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The annual range of temperature is significantly smaller in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere at comparable latitudes. Statement-II: The moderating effect in the Southern Hemisphere is primarily due to its greater proportion of continental landmass, which absorbs and releases heat slowly. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

Accepted Answer

Statement-I is correct but Statement-II is incorrect. Statement-I is correct. The Southern Hemisphere is dominated by oceans, while the Northern Hemisphere has large continental landmasses. Water heats up and cools down more slowly than land, leading to a smaller temperature range. Therefore, at any given latitude, the annual temperature range is smaller in the Southern Hemisphere. Statement-II is incorrect. The premise of the explanation is factually wrong. The Southern Hemisphere has significantly greater ocean coverage, not a greater proportion of continental landmass. It is this dominance of oceans (which have a high specific heat capacity) that causes the moderating effect and the smaller temperature range. The statement reverses the cause, attributing the moderation to landmass, which is the agent of temperature extremes (continentality). Thus, Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II provides a factually incorrect explanation.

Solar Radiation Heat Balance And Temperature

Unlock All Questions