Climate, Weather, and Geography

Statement 1 is correct: Mean monthly values of various variables like temperature, rainfall and other weather elements give an idea about the climate of a place. Statement 2 is incorrect: Such mean values of these variables are obtained from records relating to a period of around 35 years. Statement 3 is correct: Climatic maps are one of the best methods to represent average climatic conditions for a month, season or year as a whole.

Horse Latitudes or Subtropical High are subtropical latitudes between 30 and 35 degrees both north and south. This region, under a ridge of high pressure called the subtropical high, is an area which receives little precipitation and has variable winds mixed with calm. The horse latitudes are associated with the subtropical anticyclone and the large-scale descent of air from high-altitude currents moving toward the poles.

Cumulus clouds look like cotton wool and have a flat base. They exist in patches and can be seen scattered here and there.

Precipitation refers to water falling from clouds in liquid or solid form. Rainfall and snowfall are both classic forms of precipitation. Fog, however, is a cloud at ground level consisting of suspended water droplets - it forms by condensation near the Earth's surface rather than falling from clouds.

Sleet is a type of precipitation that forms when it falls through a layer of freezing air.

Both wind and earth are not stationary, i.e., they keep on moving. The change in the direction of wind is basically due to the rotation of the earth.

Winds are the air currents which are generated due to the uneven heating of the earth’s surface. The uneven heating of the earth that causes the movement of air is called atmospheric convection.

Air is always colder in the polar region than latitudes. Movement of hot air from latitudes to the polar region or cold air from the polar region to latitudes can take place, but the movement of hot air from the polar region to the equator is not possible.

During the formation of a cyclone, many events take place. There occurs the formation of a low pressure system at the centre with winds at a very high speed revolving around it. This central region of low pressure is known as the eye of the cyclone.

The swift movement of falling water droplets along with rising air creates lightning and sound, which is known as thunderstorm.

The centre of a cyclone is a calm area called the eye of the storm. Its diameter is about 10-30 km. This region is free of clouds and has light winds. The speed of wind in this region is 150 – 250 km/h.

Yes. The air is cool in winters, so that the water vapor present in it condenses to form tiny drops of water called droplets. It was this water after condensation that Aneesh saw on the leaves of grass and on the iron grilles of the gate.

Savannah Climate - The landscape is typified by tall grasses (6-12 feet high) and short trees. The grass appears greenish and well-nourished in the rainy season but turns yellow and dies down in the dry season that follows. The grass lies dormant throughout the long, rainless period and springs up again in the next rainy season. Mediterranean Climate - Prominence of local winds (some hot and others cold); the passing cyclones from the Atlantic, the anticyclones from the north and the cold air masses from the continental interiors are often interrupted or channeled by relief features resulting in the birth of local winds (such as Sirroco, Mistral) around the Mediterranean. Equatorial Climate - There are two periods of maximum rainfall, in April and in October, which occur shortly after the equinoxes. Therefore, double rainfall peaks coinciding with the equinoxes are a characteristic feature of equatorial climate not found in any other type of climate. Steppe Climate - Extensive mechanized wheat cultivation (All of them are correctly matched. So, option '4' is the correct answer.)

Option 1 is wrong. At any given altitude, except close to the surface, where water temperature controls air temperature, the environment inside the cyclone is warmer than its outer surroundings. Option 2 is wrong as hurricane, typhoon and tropical storms are tropical cyclones with tropical storm not usually having an eye as compared to the other two. Option 3 is correct as tropical cyclone develop over large bodies of warm water, i.e. the atmospheric pressure is low and loses the strength if they move over land due to increased surface friction and loss of the warm ocean as an energy source. Cyclone Thane that recently hit India is a tropical cyclone.

During the development of a thunderstorm, the air currents move upwards and the water droplets move downwards.