World and Physical Geography

261. Tidal range denotes the :

Tidal range denotes the :

[amp_mcq option1=”rise of sea water and its movement toward the coast” option2=”fall of sea water and its movement toward the sea” option3=”rise and fall of sea water due to gravitational forces” option4=”difference between high and low tide” correct=”option4″]

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UPSC CAPF – 2009
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The correct option is D (difference between high and low tide).
– Tidal range is defined as the vertical difference between the sea level at high tide and the sea level at the subsequent low tide in a specific location.
– Statement A describes the flood tide.
– Statement B describes the ebb tide.
– Statement C describes the phenomenon of tides itself (the periodic rise and fall of sea water).
– Statement D accurately defines the tidal range.
Tidal ranges vary significantly depending on location, due to factors such as the shape of the coastline, water depth, and oceanic currents. Places like the Bay of Fundy in Canada have very high tidal ranges, while enclosed seas like the Mediterranean have very low ones.

262. Where is the Coriolis Effect the largest ?

Where is the Coriolis Effect the largest ?

[amp_mcq option1=”At the Equator” option2=”At the Tropic of Capricorn and Tropic of Cancer” option3=”At the North Pole” option4=”At 45 degree latitude in each hemisphere” correct=”option3″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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The correct answer is At the North Pole.
The Coriolis Effect is an apparent force that deflects moving objects (like air currents, ocean currents, projectiles) due to the rotation of the Earth. The magnitude of the Coriolis force is proportional to the sine of the latitude. It is zero at the Equator (latitude 0 degrees) and maximum at the poles (latitude 90 degrees North and South), where sin(90) = 1.
The Coriolis effect causes moving air and water to be deflected to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This effect is significant in large-scale atmospheric and oceanic circulation patterns, but negligible for small-scale, short-duration phenomena like the movement of a person or a car.

263. Which one among the following processes is NOT part of chemical weathe

Which one among the following processes is NOT part of chemical weathering ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Solution” option2=”Hydration” option3=”Reduction” option4=”Thawing” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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Thawing is the process of ice melting into water. While it is part of the freeze-thaw cycle, which is a significant process of *physical* weathering, thawing itself is not a chemical reaction that alters the composition of the rock.
– Chemical weathering involves the alteration of the chemical composition of rocks and minerals through processes like dissolution, oxidation, reduction, hydrolysis, hydration, and carbonation.
– Solution: Minerals dissolving in water (e.g., salts, limestone in acidic water).
– Hydration: Minerals absorbing water molecules into their structure (e.g., anhydrite to gypsum).
– Reduction: Gaining electrons; often involves changes in oxidation states of elements like iron, common in anaerobic environments.
– Thawing: The physical change of state from solid (ice) to liquid (water). Freeze-thaw weathering occurs because water expands when it freezes in cracks, exerting pressure that widens the cracks. Thawing allows more water to enter, continuing the cycle, but it is the freezing/expansion that causes mechanical breakdown, not a chemical change during thawing.
Physical weathering breaks down rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical composition. Other physical weathering processes include abrasion, exfoliation, granular disintegration, and biological activity (like root wedging). Chemical weathering is more effective in warm and humid climates, while physical weathering is prominent in areas with significant temperature fluctuations and frost action.

264. Which one of the following is correct ?

Which one of the following is correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Pyroxene is commonly found in meteorites” option2=”Amphiboles form about 20% of the Earth’s crust” option3=”Quartz is soluble in water” option4=”The word ‘sedimentary’ is derived from the Latin word kelimentum” correct=”option1″]

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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The statement that Pyroxene is commonly found in meteorites is correct. The other statements are incorrect.
– Pyroxenes are a group of important rock-forming silicate minerals found in many igneous and metamorphic rocks. They are also abundant minerals in stony meteorites, particularly in chondrites and achondrites like basalts and dunites originating from asteroids.
– Amphiboles are also common rock-forming silicate minerals, but they constitute a smaller percentage of the Earth’s crust compared to feldspars and quartz. Their abundance is estimated to be around 5-7% of the continental crust.
– Quartz (silicon dioxide, SiO2) is highly insoluble in ordinary water under surface conditions, which contributes to its resistance to chemical weathering. It can be dissolved under extreme conditions (e.g., high temperature and pressure, or presence of specific chemicals), but not in typical rainwater or groundwater.
– The word ‘sedimentary’ is derived from the Latin word ‘sedimentum’, which means “a settling” or “a depositing”.
Feldspars are the most abundant mineral group in the Earth’s crust, making up over 50% by weight. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in the continental crust. The study of minerals found in meteorites provides valuable insights into the composition and formation of the early solar system and other planetary bodies.

265. Which one of the following is an example of both an igneous as well as

Which one of the following is an example of both an igneous as well as a metamorphic rock ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Gabbro” option2=”Geyserite” option3=”Gneissoid” option4=”Granite” correct=”option3″]

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UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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Gneissoid texture is characteristic of Gneiss, which is a metamorphic rock often formed from igneous rocks (like granite) or sedimentary rocks. While Gneiss is the metamorphic rock, the term ‘Gneissoid’ refers to the banded texture found in such rocks, highlighting its metamorphic nature and potential igneous (or sedimentary) parentage. Among the options, Gneissoid is the best fit to represent a rock type that bridges both categories.
– Igneous rocks are formed from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava (e.g., Granite, Gabbro).
– Metamorphic rocks are formed from pre-existing rocks (igneous, sedimentary, or other metamorphic rocks) that are subjected to high heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids, causing changes in their mineralogy, texture, or chemical composition (e.g., Gneiss, Marble, Slate).
– Gneiss is a high-grade metamorphic rock characterized by distinct banding (gneissoid texture) formed by the segregation of different minerals. It can be derived from various parent rocks, including igneous rocks like granite (forming granitic gneiss) or sedimentary rocks like shale.
– Gabbro is an igneous rock. Geyserite is a form of opal or chalcedony deposited by hot springs or geysers (often considered a chemical sedimentary deposit or mineraloid). Granite is an igneous rock.
– Gneissoid specifically describes the texture of Gneiss, a metamorphic rock that frequently originates from igneous precursors like granite, thus representing a link between the two rock types.
The transformation of granite into gneiss is a common metamorphic pathway. Regional metamorphism, associated with mountain building, is a primary process by which rocks like granite are transformed into gneiss under conditions of high temperature and pressure.

266. 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 :

List I
(Tropical Cyclone)		List II
(Country)
A. Hurricanes1. China
B. Willy Willy2. Philippines
C. Baguio3. Australia
D. Typhoons4. USA

[amp_mcq option1=”A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1″ option2=”A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4″ option3=”A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1″ option4=”A-1, B-3, C-2, D-4″ correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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The correct matching of the tropical cyclone names with the regions/countries where they are commonly known by that name is A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1, which corresponds to Option A.
– Tropical cyclones are known by different names in different parts of the world.
– Hurricanes are tropical cyclones occurring in the Atlantic Ocean and the northeastern Pacific Ocean, affecting countries like the USA and those in the Caribbean.
– Willy Willy is an informal term for tropical cyclones off the northwest coast of Australia.
– Baguio is a local name for tropical cyclones in the Philippines.
– Typhoons are tropical cyclones occurring in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, affecting countries in East Asia like China, Japan, and the Philippines.
All these terms refer to the same weather phenomenon: a rapidly rotating storm system characterized by a low-pressure center, strong winds, and a spiral arrangement of thunderstorms that produce heavy rain. The threshold for being classified as a hurricane, typhoon, or severe cyclonic storm (in the Indian Ocean) is generally sustained winds of at least 74 mph (119 km/h).

267. 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 ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Fluvial landforms” option2=”Arid landforms” option3=”Glacial landforms” option4=”Periglacial landforms” correct=”option2″]

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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.

268. Which one among the following statements with reference to Benguela cu

Which one among the following statements with reference to Benguela current is NOT correct ?

[amp_mcq option1=”It influences the climate of the West coast of North Africa” option2=”It is a cold current” option3=”Its direction is from South to North” option4=”It flows in the Atlantic Ocean” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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The Benguela Current is a cold ocean current that flows northwards along the west coast of Southern Africa, from the Cape of Good Hope up to the border with Angola. Statement B is correct; it is a well-known cold current. Statement C is correct; its direction is from South to North along the coast. Statement D is correct; it flows in the South Atlantic Ocean. Statement A is incorrect; the Benguela Current influences the climate of the *west coast of Southern Africa*, not North Africa. The west coast of North Africa is influenced by the cold Canary Current.
Ocean currents significantly influence the climate of adjacent landmasses. Cold currents, like the Benguela, often lead to arid or semi-arid conditions on the western coasts of continents in tropical and subtropical latitudes.
The upwelling associated with the Benguela Current supports a very productive marine ecosystem off the coast of Namibia and South Africa. The aridity of the Namib Desert is partly attributed to the cooling and stabilizing effect of the Benguela Current on the overlying air.

269. Which one among the following is a landlocked water body ?

Which one among the following is a landlocked water body ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Mediterranean Sea” option2=”Black Sea” option3=”Red Sea” option4=”Caspian Sea” correct=”option4″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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A landlocked water body is one that is completely surrounded by land and has no natural connection to the ocean. The Mediterranean Sea is connected to the Atlantic Ocean via the Strait of Gibraltar. The Black Sea is connected to the Mediterranean Sea via the Bosporus, Sea of Marmara, and Dardanelles. The Red Sea is connected to the Indian Ocean via the Bab-el-Mandeb strait. The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest inland body of water by area, completely surrounded by land, and has no natural outlet to the ocean. Thus, the Caspian Sea is a landlocked water body.
Landlocked water bodies are inland seas or lakes without natural connections to the global ocean system.
The Caspian Sea is often considered the world’s largest lake, though due to its size and salinity, it is also referred to as a sea. Its salinity varies across different parts. Other large landlocked bodies include the Aral Sea (though it has shrunk dramatically) and the Great Lakes of North America (freshwater).

270. Which one among the following local winds is NOT related to Mediterran

Which one among the following local winds is NOT related to Mediterranean Sea ?

[amp_mcq option1=”Harmattan” option2=”Khamsin” option3=”Sirocco” option4=”Mistral” correct=”option1″]

This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2024
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The Harmattan is a dry, dusty trade wind that blows from the Sahara Desert over West Africa and into the Atlantic Ocean during the dry season (typically November to March). It is not related to the Mediterranean Sea region. Khamsin is a hot, dry, sandy wind blowing in Egypt, often from the south. Sirocco is a Mediterranean wind originating in the Sahara and blowing north across North Africa and Southern Europe. Mistral is a cold, dry regional wind in southern France that blows down the Rhone River valley to the Mediterranean Sea. Therefore, Harmattan is the local wind that is NOT related to the Mediterranean Sea.
Local winds are influenced by regional topography and pressure systems. Understanding their origin and direction helps determine their associated regions.
Other local winds related to the Mediterranean region include Bora (Adriatic coast), Etesian (Aegean Sea), and Leveche (Spain). The Harmattan is known for reducing humidity and visibility in West Africa.
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