Winter Rainfall

1. Consider the following statements: 1. The winds which blow between 3

Consider the following statements:

  • 1. The winds which blow between 30° N and 60° S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies.
  • 2. The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC IAS – 2015
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The correct option is B.
Statement 1 is incorrect. Westerlies are prevailing winds that blow from west to east in the mid-latitudes, approximately between 30° and 60° latitude in *each* hemisphere (30°N to 60°N and 30°S to 60°S). The statement describes a range from 30°N to 60°S as a single band, which is geographically incorrect for the definition of westerlies.
Statement 2 is correct. The winter rains in the North-Western region of India (such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan and Delhi) are caused by Western Disturbances. These are extratropical storms originating in the Mediterranean region, moving eastward across Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, driven by the mid-latitude westerlies. These disturbances bring moisture that results in precipitation during the winter months. Thus, the moist air masses causing these rains are part of the westerlies system.
Westerlies are part of the global atmospheric circulation, specifically located between the subtropical high-pressure belt (around 30°) and the subpolar low-pressure belt (around 60°). They are stronger in the Southern Hemisphere due to the absence of large landmasses obstructing the flow. Western Disturbances are significant weather phenomena in North-Western India, crucial for Rabi crops, but they can also cause challenging weather conditions like fog and cold waves.

2. Which one of the following causes rainfall in the north-western parts

Which one of the following causes rainfall in the north-western parts of India during Winter Season ?

Cyclonic depression
Retreating monsoon
Western disturbances
South West monsoon
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2009
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The correct option is C (Western disturbances).
– Winter rainfall in the north-western parts of India, including Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, is primarily caused by Western Disturbances.
– Western Disturbances are low-pressure systems originating over the Mediterranean Sea. They travel eastward across Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, bringing moisture which causes precipitation in the form of rain and snow over the Himalayas and the plains of north-western India during the winter months (generally from December to March).
– Cyclonic depression can cause rainfall, but the specific winter rain in NW India is linked to the characteristic movement of Western Disturbances.
– Retreating Monsoon affects the southern parts of India, particularly the Tamil Nadu coast, during the autumn/early winter months (October-November).
– South West Monsoon is the primary monsoon season in India, bringing rainfall from June to September to most parts of the country, but not the cause of winter precipitation in the northwest plains.
The winter rainfall brought by Western Disturbances is crucial for the Rabi crops (like wheat) in north-western India.

3. Which one of the following crops is generally benefitted by the rain c

Which one of the following crops is generally benefitted by the rain caused by western disturbances in India ?

Rice
Wheat
Bajra
Cotton
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2023
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Western Disturbances are extra-tropical storms that originate in the Mediterranean region and bring sudden winter rain and snow to the northwestern parts of the Indian subcontinent. This precipitation, though sometimes associated with hailstorms or cold waves, is beneficial for the Rabi crops (winter crops) grown in Northern India. Wheat is the most important Rabi crop, and the winter rainfall brought by Western Disturbances is crucial for its successful cultivation, especially in states like Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
– Western Disturbances bring precipitation during the winter season in North India.
– This winter precipitation is essential for Rabi crops.
– Wheat is a major Rabi crop that benefits significantly from this rainfall.
Rice is a Kharif crop (summer crop) and is not grown during the winter when Western Disturbances are active. Bajra (pearl millet) and Cotton are also predominantly Kharif crops, although some varieties or regions might have different cycles.

4. The Kashmir region receives additional amount of precipitation during

The Kashmir region receives additional amount of precipitation during the winter brought by

South-west Monsoon
Western Disturbances
Retreating Monsoon
Temperate Cyclone
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2017
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The correct answer is B) Western Disturbances.
Winter precipitation in the northern parts of India, including the Kashmir region, is primarily caused by Western Disturbances. These are extra-tropical storms originating in the Mediterranean region.
Western Disturbances travel eastward across Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan before reaching the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent. They bring much-needed winter rainfall and snowfall to the Himalayas and plains, crucial for Rabi crops and the water supply from Himalayan glaciers. The South-west Monsoon causes precipitation during the summer months. The Retreating Monsoon affects mainly parts of South India during the post-monsoon season.
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