World and Physical Geography

481. A ‘Spit’ can be defined as a:

A ‘Spit’ can be defined as a:

[amp_mcq option1=”beach of sand or shingle linked at one end to the land.” option2=”ridge that links the mainland to an island.” option3=”ridge formed by consolidated dunes on the beach.” option4=”shingle ridge formed along the beach above the high water mark.” correct=”option1″]

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A spit is a coastal landform, specifically a strip of sand or shingle, which is connected to the mainland at one end and projects into the sea or a body of water.
Spits are formed by longshore drift and deposition of sediment along the coast.
Option B describes a tombolo, which connects an island to the mainland. Options C and D describe types of beach ridges or dunes, but not the characteristic shape and attachment of a spit.

482. Very strong air currents in the upper air westerlies are known as:

Very strong air currents in the upper air westerlies are known as:

[amp_mcq option1=”Jet streams” option2=”Tornados” option3=”Blizzards” option4=”Chinook winds” correct=”option1″]

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Very strong, narrow air currents in the upper atmosphere, particularly in the westerlies, are known as jet streams.
Jet streams are high-altitude, fast-flowing air currents found at the boundary between different air masses.
The main jet streams are the polar jet and the subtropical jet. They significantly influence weather patterns and the movement of air masses.

483. Urban sprawl takes place when:

Urban sprawl takes place when:

[amp_mcq option1=”residential densities increase within an urban area.” option2=”an urban area expands into the countryside.” option3=”population of towns and cities decline due to out-migration.” option4=”a rural area expands into the neighbouring city.” correct=”option2″]

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Urban sprawl is characterized by the outward expansion of cities and their suburbs into the surrounding low-density rural land. It results in dispersed, low-density development with a heavy reliance on automobiles.
The key aspect of urban sprawl is the physical expansion of the urban area into previously non-urban (often countryside) areas.
Increased residential densities within an urban area (densification) is the opposite of sprawl. Population decline in cities due to out-migration might be a consequence or related phenomenon but is not the definition of sprawl itself. The phrase “a rural area expands into the neighbouring city” is inaccurate; it is the urban activities and built environment that expand into rural land.

484. The Fujita Intensity Scale, developed by late T. Theodore Fujita (Univ

The Fujita Intensity Scale, developed by late T. Theodore Fujita (University of Chicago) is used for measuring the intensity of:

[amp_mcq option1=”Earthquakes” option2=”Rainfall” option3=”Tornadoes” option4=”Volcanic eruptions” correct=”option3″]

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The Fujita Scale, developed by T. Theodore Fujita, is a scale used to classify the intensity of tornadoes based on the damage they cause. It was later superseded by the Enhanced Fujita Scale (EF-Scale).
The question specifically mentions the scale developed by T. Theodore Fujita for measuring intensity.
Earthquakes are measured using scales like the Richter or Moment Magnitude scale. Rainfall is measured in units of depth. Volcanic eruptions are measured using the Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI).

485. Roughly conical hills, composed of sorted glacio-fluvial deposits, are

Roughly conical hills, composed of sorted glacio-fluvial deposits, are called:

[amp_mcq option1=”Erratics” option2=”Drumlins” option3=”Kames” option4=”Eskers” correct=”option3″]

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Kames are irregular, roughly conical hills composed of stratified sand and gravel deposited by meltwater streams at the edge or on the surface of a retreating glacier, or in contact with stagnant glacial ice.
The description “roughly conical hills, composed of sorted glacio-fluvial deposits” perfectly matches the characteristics of Kames.
Erratics are large boulders transported and deposited by ice. Drumlins are elongated, streamlined hills formed by glacial ice, composed of till (unsorted). Eskers are long, sinuous ridges formed by meltwater streams flowing within or beneath a glacier.

486. Which one of the following is a classic example of an Entrepôt Port?

Which one of the following is a classic example of an Entrepôt Port?

[amp_mcq option1=”Mumbai” option2=”Singapore” option3=”Maracaibo” option4=”San Francisco” correct=”option2″]

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An entrepôt port is a port where goods are imported, stored, and then re-exported, often after processing, without being subject to import duties. It acts as a major transhipment and distribution centre for trade.
Singapore is a prime example of an entrepôt port due to its strategic location along major shipping routes and its large-scale transhipment activities, serving as a regional hub for trade.
Mumbai, Maracaibo, and San Francisco are major ports handling significant trade, but Singapore’s economy and port operations are fundamentally built around its role as an entrepôt, facilitating trade flow between different regions.

487. Which one among the following has negligible role in

Which one among the following has negligible role in evapotranspiration?

[amp_mcq option1=”Radiation intensity” option2=”Atmospheric dew point” option3=”Atmospheric pressure” option4=”Length of day” correct=”option3″]

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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.

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

Which one among the following statements is NOT correct?

[amp_mcq option1=”The troposphere is lower at high latitudes than low latitudes” option2=”The north-south temperature gradients are much steeper in winter” option3=”The strongest horizontal temperature gradients are in middle latitudes in both summer and winter” option4=”The north-south temperature gradient are much steeper in summer” correct=”option4″]

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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.

489. Which among the following has the maximum albedo?

Which among the following has the maximum albedo?

[amp_mcq option1=”Vegetation” option2=”Concrete” option3=”Desert” option4=”Clouds” correct=”option4″]

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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.

490. Temperature inversion most frequently occurs in:

Temperature inversion most frequently occurs in:

[amp_mcq option1=”Lower Troposphere” option2=”Upper Troposphere” option3=”Lower Stratosphere” option4=”Upper Stratosphere” correct=”option1″]

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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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