Greenhouse Effect and Climate Change

61. Which one of the following is the international convention agreement s

Which one of the following is the international convention agreement specifying the commitments of different countries to mitigate climate change?

Montreal Protocol
Kyoto Protocol
Paris Agreement
Bali Agreement
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2023
Download PDFAttempt Online
The Paris Agreement is an international treaty adopted in 2015 under the framework of the UNFCCC. It is the current major global agreement where countries formally commit to mitigating climate change by submitting Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) outlining their efforts to reduce emissions and adapt to climate change impacts. While the Kyoto Protocol also specified commitments (legally binding targets for Annex I countries), the Paris Agreement involves commitments from all parties and is the operative framework for global climate action commitments today.
– Paris Agreement (2015) requires all parties to submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) specifying their climate action goals.
– Kyoto Protocol (1997) set legally binding emission reduction targets for industrialized countries (Annex I parties) for specific commitment periods.
– Montreal Protocol (1987) addresses ozone-depleting substances, not greenhouse gas emissions causing climate change.
– Bali Action Plan (2007) was a roadmap towards a new climate agreement, not the agreement itself.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the parent treaty for both the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

62. The United Nations has recently warned that ‘famine-like conditions ha

The United Nations has recently warned that ‘famine-like conditions have been created by climate change’ in which one of the following countries?

Madagascar
Mongolia
Papua New Guinea
Venezuela
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2022
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is (A) Madagascar.
In 2021, the United Nations warned about severe drought conditions in Southern Madagascar, directly linking the resulting food crisis and ‘famine-like conditions’ to climate change, describing it as potentially the world’s first famine caused by the climate crisis.
The region in Southern Madagascar experienced its worst drought in 40 years, leading to widespread crop failure, acute food insecurity, and humanitarian crisis affecting hundreds of thousands of people.

63. Which one of the following greenhouse gases is man-made?

Which one of the following greenhouse gases is man-made?

Carbon dioxide
Chlorofluorocarbon
Methane
Nitrous oxide
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2022
Download PDFAttempt Online
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are entirely synthetic, man-made chemicals. They do not have significant natural sources and were developed for various industrial applications such as refrigerants, aerosols, and cleaning solvents. They are potent greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to the greenhouse effect. While carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are naturally occurring gases, their atmospheric concentrations have been significantly increased by human activities (anthropogenic emissions). In contrast, CFCs are purely anthropogenic compounds.
CFCs were widely used but are now largely phased out under international agreements (like the Montreal Protocol) because they also contribute to the depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, in addition to being powerful greenhouse gases. Other exclusively man-made greenhouse gases include Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), Perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and Sulphur Hexafluoride (SF₆).

64. Which one of the following important greenhouse gases is not conside

Which one of the following important greenhouse gases is not considered to be largely changed in its amount due to human activities?

Water vapour
Carbon dioxide
Chlorofluorocarbon
Methane
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2022
Download PDFAttempt Online
Water vapor (H₂O) is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere. However, its concentration is primarily controlled by temperature and the water cycle (evaporation, condensation, precipitation). While the amount of water vapor *changes* in response to global warming caused by other greenhouse gases (acting as a positive feedback loop, where warmer air holds more water vapor), human activities do not directly and significantly change the *global* atmospheric concentration of water vapor through emissions in the way they do for carbon dioxide, methane, and chlorofluorocarbons. Carbon dioxide (from burning fossil fuels, deforestation), methane (from agriculture, fossil fuels), and chlorofluorocarbons (synthetic chemicals) have seen their atmospheric concentrations dramatically increased primarily due to human activities.
– Water vapor concentration is mainly controlled by temperature and natural processes.
– CO₂, CH₄, and CFCs concentrations are significantly increased by direct human emissions.
– Water vapor acts largely as a feedback to changes initiated by other greenhouse gases.
Water vapor contributes significantly to the natural greenhouse effect. Its concentration in the atmosphere varies geographically and temporally, but the overall global atmospheric burden is not primarily driven by direct human emissions like the other listed gases.

65. Which one of the following is not correct in the context of greenhouse

Which one of the following is not correct in the context of greenhouse effect?

Nitrogen and oxygen are poor absorbers of shortwave solar radiation
Clouds are poor absorbers of the Earth radiation
The most Earth radiation that escapes to space is in a narrow band from 8-13 micrometres
More than 70% of the atmospheric radiant energy is directed back to the surface
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2022
Download PDFAttempt Online
Clouds are composed of water droplets or ice crystals and are very effective absorbers and emitters of longwave infrared radiation (Earth radiation). They significantly contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing outgoing radiation and re-emitting it back towards the surface. Therefore, the statement that clouds are poor absorbers of Earth radiation is incorrect.
– Nitrogen and oxygen (A) are diatomic molecules and are poor absorbers of both incoming solar (shortwave) and outgoing Earth (longwave) radiation, explaining why they are not greenhouse gases.
– The atmospheric window (C) is a range of wavelengths (roughly 8-13 µm) in the infrared spectrum where the atmosphere, particularly water vapour and CO2, is relatively transparent, allowing some Earth radiation to escape to space.
– A large proportion of atmospheric radiant energy, absorbed from the Earth’s surface, is indeed re-emitted downwards as back radiation (D), contributing significantly to surface warming via the greenhouse effect. While the exact percentage can vary, the concept that a large amount is directed back is correct.
Clouds have a complex effect on the Earth’s energy balance; they reflect incoming solar radiation (cooling effect) and absorb/emit outgoing infrared radiation (warming effect). The net effect depends on cloud type, altitude, and latitude. However, their role as strong absorbers and emitters of infrared radiation is well established.

66. As compared to natural greenhouse effect, the enhanced greenhouse effe

As compared to natural greenhouse effect, the enhanced greenhouse effect refers to increase in average surface temperature of the Earth due to

volcanic activity
warm ocean currents
sunspot activity
anthropogenic activities
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2022
Download PDFAttempt Online
As compared to natural greenhouse effect, the enhanced greenhouse effect refers to increase in average surface temperature of the Earth due to anthropogenic activities.
The natural greenhouse effect is a process where certain gases in the atmosphere trap heat, warming the Earth’s surface to a habitable temperature. The enhanced, or anthropogenic, greenhouse effect refers to the additional warming of the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere due to the increase in greenhouse gas concentrations caused by human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and industrial processes.
Volcanic activity, warm ocean currents, and sunspot activity are natural factors that can influence climate, but the significant and rapid increase in global average temperatures observed since the Industrial Revolution is overwhelmingly attributed to human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases.

67. Which one of the following statements on Climate of India is NOT

Which one of the following statements on Climate of India is NOT correct?

Year 2020 was the eighth warmest year on record since 1901
12 out of 15 warmest years were during the recent fifteen years (2006-2020)
During the year 2020, the monsoon season rainfall over the country as a whole was below normal
Past decade (2001-2010/ 2010-2020) was the warmest decade on record
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2021
Download PDFAttempt Online
The statement “During the year 2020, the monsoon season rainfall over the country as a whole was below normal” is NOT correct.
– According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reports for 2020, the Southwest Monsoon rainfall over the country as a whole was above normal, specifically 109% of the Long Period Average (LPA).
– Statement A is correct: IMD data confirmed 2020 was the eighth warmest year on record since 1901.
– Statement B is correct: Global and Indian climate trends show that most of the warmest years on record have occurred in recent decades. IMD reports confirm that 12 out of the 15 warmest years during 1901-2020 were in the period 2006-2020.
– Statement D is correct: Recent decades, such as 2001-2010 and 2011-2020, have been the warmest decades on record for India, consistent with global warming trends.
– IMD releases annual climate summaries and reports on monsoon performance, which are key sources for such information.
– The Long Period Average (LPA) is the average rainfall recorded over a specific period (currently 1971-2020 for the southwest monsoon) used as a benchmark to classify monsoon performance (e.g., normal, above normal, below normal).

68. Naturally occurring green house gases keeps the Earth warmer nearly

Naturally occurring green house gases keeps the Earth warmer nearly by:

20 °C
23 °C
30 °C
33 °C
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2021
Download PDFAttempt Online
Naturally occurring greenhouse gases (like water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, etc.) trap heat in the Earth’s atmosphere through the greenhouse effect. This process warms the planet’s surface significantly.
Without the natural greenhouse effect, Earth’s average surface temperature would be about -18°C. With it, the average temperature is around +15°C.
The difference between these two temperatures (-18°C and +15°C) is approximately 33°C. This is the warming effect provided by naturally occurring greenhouse gases. Human activities emitting additional greenhouse gases enhance this natural effect, leading to global warming.

69. According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2020, published by environm

According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2020, published by environmental think tank Germanwatch, in the year 2018 India’s rank in the list of top most climate affected nations is:

1<sup>st</sup>
3<sup>rd</sup>
5<sup>th</sup>
7<sup>th</sup>
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2020, published by Germanwatch, India’s rank in the list of top most climate affected nations in 2018 was 5th.
The Global Climate Risk Index analyses the extent to which countries and regions have been affected by the impacts of extreme weather events (storms, floods, heatwaves etc.).
The index uses data from the Munich Re NatCatSERVICE database for loss events and socio-economic data. The 2020 report covered data up to 2018, and also presented rankings based on events from 1999 to 2018.

70. India has committed to reduce emission intensity of its GDP from 2005

India has committed to reduce emission intensity of its GDP from 2005 levels by 33-35 per cent by the year:

2022
2030
2032
2035
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2020
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is 2030.
India’s first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement included a commitment to reduce the emission intensity of its GDP by 33-35 per cent from 2005 levels by the year 2030.
In 2022, India updated its NDC, enhancing the emission intensity reduction target to 45 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. However, the question refers to the initial 33-35 per cent commitment, which was set for 2030.
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5
Exit mobile version