Arid Region / Desert

1. Consider the following statements about Barchans: 1. These landforms

Consider the following statements about Barchans:

  • 1. These landforms are found in Thar desert in India.
  • 2. The windward side has concave slope with maximum height at the centre.
  • 3. Two ends of the barchan are called horns.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

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1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
3 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2023
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Statement 1 is correct; Barchan dunes are common landforms found in various deserts, including the Thar Desert in India. Statement 3 is correct; the two tapering ends of a crescent-shaped barchan dune, which point downwind, are called horns. Statement 2 is incorrect; the windward side of a barchan dune has a gentle, *convex* slope where sand is pushed up by the wind. The leeward side is the steep *concave* slip face.
Barchans are characteristic crescent-shaped dunes formed by unidirectional wind, commonly found in sand deserts. Their structure includes a gentle, convex windward slope, a steep, concave leeward slip face, and horns pointing in the direction of the wind.
Barchans typically form where there is a limited supply of sand and a relatively constant wind direction. Their movement is primarily determined by wind speed and direction. Statement 2 incorrectly describes the windward slope as concave; it is the leeward slip face that is concave and steep.

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2. Sonoran is a

Sonoran is a

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desert area of North America
seasonal wind of France
cash crop of Mediterranean region
tribe in South Africa
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2019
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The Sonoran Desert is a major North American desert that covers large parts of northwestern Mexico, southern Arizona, and southeastern California. It is known for its unique flora and fauna, including the Saguaro cactus.
Recognizing prominent geographical features like major deserts in different parts of the world is a test of general geography knowledge.
Other major deserts in North America include the Mojave Desert, the Chihuahuan Desert, and the Great Basin Desert. The Sonoran Desert is often considered one of the hottest and largest deserts in North America.

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3. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

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List-I (Continent)List-II (Desert)
A. Asia1. Atacama
B. Africa2. Mojave
C. North America3. Kalahari
D. South America4. Gobi

Code :

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A-4 B-2 C-3 D-1
A-1 B-3 C-2 D-4
A-4 B-3 C-2 D-1
A-1 B-2 C-3 D-4
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2013
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The correct answer is C. This option correctly matches the continents with the specified deserts.
– Asia is home to the Gobi Desert.
– Africa contains the Kalahari Desert.
– North America includes the Mojave Desert.
– South America features the Atacama Desert.
The Gobi Desert is a cold desert located in China and Mongolia. The Kalahari Desert is a large semi-arid sandy savanna in Southern Africa. The Mojave Desert is a desert in the southwestern United States. The Atacama Desert is a desert plateau in South America, known as the driest non-polar desert in the world.

4. The lowest part of most bolsons is occupied by a landform called playa

The lowest part of most bolsons is occupied by a landform called playa. Which category of landform formation does it represent ?

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Fluvial landforms
Arid landforms
Glacial landforms
Periglacial landforms
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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Bolsons are internally drained basins characteristic of arid and semi-arid regions, particularly in the Basin and Range topography of the United States. The lowest part of a bolson is often a playa, which is a flat, dry lakebed that forms when ephemeral lakes evaporate. Both bolsons and playas are landforms shaped by processes dominant in arid environments, including intermittent fluvial action (during rainfall) and significant evaporation. They are classic examples of Arid landforms. Fluvial landforms are shaped by permanent rivers. Glacial landforms are shaped by glaciers. Periglacial landforms are associated with cold climates near glacial margins, involving processes like frost heave and solifluction.
Playas are flat-bottomed depressions found in internally drained basins (bolsons) in arid regions, formed by the accumulation and subsequent evaporation of water.
Playas can accumulate evaporite minerals like salt, gypsum, or borax, depending on the dissolved load carried by the water. Famous examples include the Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA and Etosha pan in Namibia.

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5. Fine-grained bed of ephemeral lake in a desert is also known as

Fine-grained bed of ephemeral lake in a desert is also known as

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Playa
Oasis
Drumlin
Natural levee
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2021
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A fine-grained bed of an ephemeral lake in a desert is also known as a Playa.
A playa (also known as a dry lakebed or alkali flat) is a basin or depression that holds water only temporarily, usually after rain, forming an ephemeral lake. As the water evaporates in the arid conditions, fine-grained sediments (silt and clay) are left behind, forming a smooth, flat, dry surface.
Oasis is a fertile area in a desert with a water source. Drumlin is a glacial landform. Natural levee is a feature of river systems. The description of a temporary lakebed with fine-grained deposits in a desert specifically refers to a playa.

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6. Taklamakan Desert is situated in

Taklamakan Desert is situated in

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Western Asia
Southern fringe of Sahara in Africa
South America
Central Asia
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2017
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The Taklamakan Desert is a large desert located in Northwest China, within the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang. This region is geographically considered part of Central Asia.
The Taklamakan Desert is situated in the Tarim Basin of Xinjiang, China, which falls within the geographical scope of Central Asia.
Central Asia is a vast region stretching from the Caspian Sea in the west to China and Mongolia in the east. It includes countries like Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, as well as parts of neighbouring countries like Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and China (including Xinjiang).

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7. ‘Sahel’ region of Sahara desert is asso ciated with

‘Sahel’ region of Sahara desert is asso ciated with

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core area of Sahara desert
southern moving edge of Sahara desert
northern fringe of Sahara desert bordering Mediterranean sea
another name of Sahara desert
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2016
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The ‘Sahel’ region of the Sahara desert is associated with the southern moving edge of the Sahara desert.
– The Sahel is a transitional zone in Africa located between the Sahara desert to the north and the Sudanian Savanna to the south.
– It stretches across the continent from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea.
– The name ‘Sahel’ comes from the Arabic word ساحل (sāḥil), meaning ‘coast’ or ‘shore’, referring to the region as the southern ‘shore’ or edge of the vast Sahara desert.
– The Sahel experiences a semi-arid climate and is ecologically fragile, facing challenges like desertification, which involves the southward expansion of the Sahara into the Sahel region, hence it can be described as the ‘southern moving edge’.

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8. Which of the following statements regarding Barchan is/are correct ?

Which of the following statements regarding Barchan is/are correct ?

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  • 1. It is a crescent shaped mound of sand, which is deposited by the wind blowing constantly from one direction in a desert.
  • 2. The windward side has a convex steep slope with maximum height at the centre.
  • 3. Two ends of Barchan are called horns and point opposite to the direction the wind blows.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2024
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Statement 1 is correct. A Barchan is indeed a crescent-shaped sand dune formed by wind blowing predominantly from one direction in a desert environment.
Barchans are one of the most common types of sand dunes. Their shape is a direct result of unidirectional wind flow and limited sand supply.
Statement 2 is incorrect. The windward side of a barchan dune has a gentle, convex slope where sand is pushed up by the wind. The leeward side, also known as the slip face, has a much steeper, concave slope (close to the angle of repose for sand, around 30-34 degrees) where sand avalanches down. The maximum height is at the crest, just before the slip face.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The two ends of the crescent shape are called horns. These horns point downwind, in the direction that the wind is blowing, because the sand moves faster around the edges of the dune than at the center. They point *in* the direction of the wind flow, not opposite to it.

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9. Which one of the following is the driest desert of the world ?

Which one of the following is the driest desert of the world ?

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Atacama
Gobi
Sahara
Kalahari
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2018
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The Atacama Desert in Chile is widely recognized as the driest non-polar desert in the world.
The extreme aridity of the Atacama is primarily caused by the rain shadow effect from the Andes mountains to the east and the influence of the cold, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current along the coast, which stabilizes the atmosphere and inhibits cloud formation and precipitation.
Other large deserts listed are Gobi (Central Asia), Sahara (North Africa), and Kalahari (Southern Africa), all known for their aridity, but the Atacama is typically cited as the driest.

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10. Deserts are generally located at

Deserts are generally located at

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Equatorial region
Polar region
about 30° latitude
about 65° latitude
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2023
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The correct answer is (C) about 30° latitude.
Many of the world’s largest deserts are located in the subtropical high-pressure belts, which are typically found around 30° North and South latitudes. The descending air in these regions inhibits cloud formation and precipitation, leading to arid conditions.
Examples of deserts located near 30° latitude include the Sahara Desert (North Africa), Arabian Desert (Middle East), Great Sandy Desert (Australia), and Atacama Desert (South America). While polar regions are also technically deserts (due to low precipitation), the vast subtropical deserts are characteristically found around these latitudes.

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