UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 14: Air Masses, Fronts and Cyclones (21 MCQs)

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UPSC Physical Geography – Chapter 14: Air Masses, Fronts and Cyclones (21 MCQs) – 21 questions, subject: Geography. Every question has the correct answer with a one-line explanation; tap "Show Answer". Free practice for TNPSC, UPSC, SSC, Bank and RRB exams – Shanmugam IAS Academy, Coimbatore.

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1.  

An air mass is best described as:

Correct Answer: C [a large body of air with fairly uniform temperature and humidity]

Explanation:

An air mass is a large body of air that acquires fairly uniform temperature and humidity from a homogeneous source region.

2.  

A continental tropical (cT) air mass is:

Correct Answer: A [hot and dry]

Explanation:

Continental tropical air forms over subtropical hot deserts, so it is hot and dry (Table 14.1).

3.  

The process of formation of fronts is called:

Correct Answer: D [frontogenesis]

Explanation:

NCERT calls the process by which fronts form, where two different air masses meet, frontogenesis.

4.  

An occluded front forms when:

Correct Answer: D [a cold front overtakes a warm front and the warm air is lifted off the ground]

Explanation:

When the faster cold front catches up with the warm front, the warm air is lifted fully off the surface – an occluded front.

5.  

Extra-tropical cyclones generally move:

Correct Answer: C [from west to east]

Explanation:

with the westerlies.

6.  

According to NCERT, a tropical cyclone needs a sea-surface temperature higher than about:

Correct Answer: B [27 °C]

Explanation:

NCERT lists a large sea surface with temperature higher than 27 °C as the first condition for tropical cyclone formation.

7.  

Tropical cyclones do not form at the equator mainly because:

Correct Answer: A [the Coriolis force is too weak]

Explanation:

The Coriolis force is nearly zero at the equator, so a cyclonic vortex cannot develop there.

8.  

In a mature tropical cyclone, the strongest winds blow in the:

Correct Answer: D [eye wall]

Explanation:

In the eye wall, air spirals upward strongly to great heights around the calm eye, and wind speeds reach their maximum.

9.  

Tropical cyclones of the western Pacific Ocean are called:

Correct Answer: A [typhoons]

Explanation:

NCERT calls tropical cyclones of the western Pacific and South China Sea typhoons.

10.  

Consider the following statements:

1. Tropical cyclones originate only over warm seas.
2. Temperate cyclones have warm and cold fronts.
3. Tropical cyclones gain strength after landfall.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: B [1 and 2 only]

Explanation:

Statements 1 and 2 are correct; statement 3 is wrong because tropical cyclones weaken after landfall.

11.  

Assertion (A): A tropical cyclone weakens rapidly after it crosses the coast.

Reason (R): Over land the cyclone loses its supply of moisture and latent heat.

Correct Answer: A [Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A]

Explanation:

Both are true and linked: cut off from warm sea moisture and latent heat over land, the cyclone loses energy and weakens.

12.  

According to NCERT, the diameter of tropical cyclones over the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean is about:

Correct Answer: C [600–1,200 km]

Explanation:

NCERT gives the diameter of storms over the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean as 600–1,200 km.

13.  

A tornado over the sea is called a:

Correct Answer: D [waterspout]

Explanation:

NCERT states that a tornado occurring over the sea is called a waterspout.

14.  

In the IMD classification, a "super cyclonic storm" has maximum sustained winds of:

Correct Answer: D [120 knots and above]

Explanation:

IMD classes a system with maximum sustained winds of 120 knots (about 222 km/h) or more as a super cyclonic storm.

15.  

Hail in a thunderstorm forms when:

Correct Answer: A [cumulonimbus clouds extend to heights with sub-zero temperatures]

Explanation:

When thunderstorm clouds rise to levels where temperatures are below freezing, water freezes into hail, as NCERT explains.

16.  

The winter rain and snow of north-west India are brought mainly by:

Correct Answer: C [western disturbances]

Explanation:

Western disturbances, temperate systems from the Mediterranean region carried east by the westerlies, bring winter rain and snow to north-west India.

17.  

Arrange the following in chronological order:

1. Disaster Management Act
2. Odisha super cyclone
3. New list of north Indian Ocean cyclone names
4. Cyclone Phailin evacuation

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Correct Answer: C [2-1-4-3]

Explanation:

1999, 2005, 2013, 2020.

18.  

Jet streams are:

Correct Answer: B [narrow belts of fast westerly winds in the upper troposphere]

Explanation:

Jet streams are narrow belts of high-altitude westerly winds in the upper troposphere, above about 12,000 m according to NCERT.

19.  

A cold front usually brings:

Correct Answer: B [heavy showers and thunderstorms in a narrow belt]

Explanation:

A cold front lifts warm air steeply, building a narrow belt of cumulonimbus clouds with heavy showers and thunderstorms.

20.  

The Coromandel coast receives most of its cyclones during:

Correct Answer: C [October–December]

Explanation:

Most Bay of Bengal cyclones striking the Coromandel coast come in the north-east monsoon season, October–December.

21.  
UPSC Prelims 2020

Consider the following statements:

1. Jet streams occur in the Northern Hemisphere only.
2. Only some cyclones develop an eye.
3. The temperature inside the eye of a cyclone is nearly 10°C lesser than that of the surroundings.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: C [2 only]

Explanation:

only some cyclones develop an eye.

➤ Full notes, maps, tables, a reason for every option and Mains PYQs – U08 · Physical Geography (UPSC book, ₹249): www.shanmugamiasacademy.in/study-materials/upsc-physical-geography

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