UPSC Geoscientist

41. Which one among the following has negligible role in

Which one among the following has negligible role in evapotranspiration?

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Radiation intensity
Atmospheric dew point
Atmospheric pressure
Length of day
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Atmospheric pressure has a negligible role in evapotranspiration compared to factors like radiation intensity, atmospheric dew point, temperature, wind, and soil moisture.
Evapotranspiration is the combined process of evaporation (water from surfaces like soil and water bodies) and transpiration (water from plants) into the atmosphere. It is primarily driven by the energy available (radiation), the difference in water vapor concentration between the surface and the atmosphere (humidity/dew point), and the movement of air (wind).
While pressure can affect the density of air and thus the diffusion rate of water vapor, its variations under normal atmospheric conditions have a far less significant impact on the overall rate of evapotranspiration compared to changes in temperature, radiation, humidity, or wind speed.

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42. Which one among the following statements is NOT correct?

Which one among the following statements is NOT correct?

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The troposphere is lower at high latitudes than low latitudes
The north-south temperature gradients are much steeper in winter
The strongest horizontal temperature gradients are in middle latitudes in both summer and winter
The north-south temperature gradient are much steeper in summer
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The correct answer is The north-south temperature gradient are much steeper in summer.
The north-south temperature gradient refers to the change in temperature with latitude. This gradient is much steeper in winter than in summer. In winter, the high latitudes receive very little or no solar radiation, leading to very cold temperatures, while the low latitudes remain relatively warm. This creates a large temperature contrast. In summer, high latitudes receive much more solar radiation (long daylight hours), warming them significantly, which reduces the temperature difference between high and low latitudes, making the gradient less steep.
Statements A, B, and C are correct. The troposphere is indeed thinner at the poles (high latitudes) and thicker at the equator (low latitudes) due to temperature differences and convective activity. The north-south temperature gradients are much steeper in winter (as explained above), and the strongest horizontal temperature gradients are found in the middle latitudes in both seasons, where polar and tropical air masses interact, leading to frontal systems and strong winds like the jet stream.

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43. Which among the following has the maximum albedo?

Which among the following has the maximum albedo?

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Vegetation
Concrete
Desert
Clouds
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The correct answer is Clouds.
Albedo is the measure of the reflectivity of a surface. Clouds, especially fresh, thick clouds, are very effective at reflecting solar radiation back into space and typically have a high albedo (ranging from 0.2 to 0.7 or even higher).
Other surfaces listed have generally lower albedos: Vegetation (like forests) typically has a low albedo (around 0.1-0.2) as it absorbs sunlight for photosynthesis. Concrete surfaces have moderate albedo (around 0.1-0.3). Desert surfaces (sand) can have moderate to high albedo (around 0.2-0.4) depending on the color and composition of the sand, but generally lower than bright clouds. Fresh snow has the highest albedo among natural surfaces, but it was not an option.

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44. Temperature inversion most frequently occurs in:

Temperature inversion most frequently occurs in:

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Lower Troposphere
Upper Troposphere
Lower Stratosphere
Upper Stratosphere
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The correct answer is Lower Troposphere.
Temperature inversion occurs when the temperature increases with increasing height in a layer of the atmosphere, which is the reverse of the normal decrease in temperature with height in the troposphere (lapse rate). Inversions most frequently occur near the Earth’s surface (surface inversions) or at relatively low altitudes, typically within the lower troposphere. These inversions can be caused by radiative cooling of the surface at night, the advection of warm air over a cold surface, or the subsidence of air.
The stratosphere is characterized by a temperature increase with height due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer. While this is a normal temperature profile for the stratosphere, the term “temperature inversion” usually refers to a layer within the troposphere or lower atmosphere where the temperature profile is inverted compared to the standard tropospheric lapse rate.

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45. Which one among the following has the highest concentration in the

Which one among the following has the highest concentration in the atmosphere?

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Argon
Carbon dioxide
Neon
Methane
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The correct answer is Argon.
While Nitrogen (~78%) and Oxygen (~21%) are the most abundant gases in the atmosphere, among the options provided, Argon has the highest concentration, making up about 0.93% of the dry atmosphere.
The concentrations of the other gases listed are significantly lower: Carbon dioxide is approximately 0.04%, Neon is about 0.0018%, and Methane is around 0.00018%.

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46. Which one among the following is NOT a reason for low biodiversity?

Which one among the following is NOT a reason for low biodiversity?

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Habitat stress
Abundance of ecological niches
Geographical isolation
Dominance by one species
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The correct answer is Abundance of ecological niches.
Ecological niches are the roles and positions species occupy within an ecosystem. An abundance of ecological niches means there are many different ways for species to coexist and utilize resources without direct competition, which typically leads to higher biodiversity. Therefore, an abundance of ecological niches is a reason for *high* biodiversity, not low biodiversity.
Reasons for low biodiversity include habitat stress (harsh environmental conditions), geographical isolation (limits species migration and gene flow), and dominance by one or a few species (which outcompete or exclude others).

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47. The decade of 2021 – 2030 is declared by the United Nations as the dec

The decade of 2021 – 2030 is declared by the United Nations as the decade on:

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Biodiversity
Family Farming
Ecosystem Restoration
Water for Sustainable Development
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The correct answer is Ecosystem Restoration.
The United Nations has declared 2021–2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. This initiative aims to prevent, halt, and reverse the degradation of ecosystems worldwide.
Other relevant UN decades include the UN Decade on Biodiversity (2011-2020), the UN Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028), and the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development (2018-2028). The 2021-2030 decade specifically focuses on large-scale restoration efforts across terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine ecosystems.

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48. Which one among the following is a peat-producing wetland?

Which one among the following is a peat-producing wetland?

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Swamps
Marshes
Bogs
Lakes
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The correct answer is Bogs.
Bogs are a type of freshwater wetland characterized by spongy peat deposits, acidic waters, and a floor covered by a thick carpet of sphagnum moss. Peat is accumulated partially decayed vegetation or organic matter that develops in wetlands where waterlogged conditions inhibit decomposition, which is a defining feature of bogs.
Swamps are typically forested wetlands. Marshes are herbaceous wetlands dominated by grasses, rushes, or reeds. Lakes are open bodies of water, and while they may accumulate organic sediment, they are not primarily defined by peat formation in the same way bogs are.

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49. The Headquarters of Coal India Limited (CIL), a ‘Maha Ratna’ PSU under

The Headquarters of Coal India Limited (CIL), a ‘Maha Ratna’ PSU under the Ministry of Coal, is located at:

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Dhanbad
Nagpur
Kolkata
Kothagudem
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The correct answer is Kolkata.
Coal India Limited (CIL), the largest coal producer in the world and a major Public Sector Undertaking (PSU) of the Government of India, has its headquarters located in Kolkata, West Bengal.
CIL is a ‘Maha Ratna’ company and operates through various subsidiaries located in the major coal-producing states of India, such as Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Assam. Dhanbad is known as the ‘Coal Capital of India’ due to its abundant coal reserves and mining activities, but it is not the location of CIL headquarters. Nagpur is home to Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), a CIL subsidiary. Kothagudem is in Telangana and is a key area for Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL), which is a separate state-owned company.

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50. “Forward Block” party was formed in 1940 in the state of:

“Forward Block” party was formed in 1940 in the state of:

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West Bengal
Kerala
Maharashtra
Punjab
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The correct answer is West Bengal.
The Forward Bloc was formed by Subhas Chandra Bose on May 3, 1939, after he resigned from the presidency of the Indian National Congress. The party’s formation and early activities were primarily centered in Bengal, which was Subhas Chandra Bose’s home state and a major political hub. While the founding happened in 1939, its organization and activities continued into 1940 from its base in Bengal.
The Forward Bloc aimed to consolidate all radical elements within the Congress and elsewhere to strengthen the anti-imperialist struggle. Subhas Chandra Bose was subsequently arrested in 1940 by the British for his activities.

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