Q50. Norwesters are powerful evening thunderstorms typically observed in which regions?
[SSC CGL Tier I (26 July 2023, Shift 2)]
(A) Bengal and Assam
(B) Punjab and Haryana
(C) Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
(D) Telangana and Maharashtra
Answer: (A) Bengal and Assam
Explanation: Norwesters, called Kalbaisakhi in Bengal, occur mainly during the pre-monsoon hot season in eastern and northeastern India. Severe squalls, lightning and short bursts of heavy rain are characteristic. They can damage property while providing useful moisture to crops.
Q49. What is meant by continentality in climate?
[SSC CGL Tier I (25 July 2023, Shift 2)]
(A) Very hot winter and very cold summer
(B) Very hot summer and very cold winter
(C) Hot summer with rain all year
(D) Cold winter but no hot summer
Answer: (B) Very hot summer and very cold winter
Explanation: Continentality describes the greater seasonal temperature contrast of inland regions, which do not benefit from the thermal moderation of nearby seas. Such places often have hot summers and cold winters. Coastal areas normally show a smaller annual temperature range.
Q48. In Köppen’s climate classification, the code E indicates which climatic category?
[SSC CGL Tier I (24 July 2023, Shift 4)]
(A) Tropical savanna
(B) Hot desert
(C) Monsoon with dry summer
(D) Polar type
Answer: (D) Polar type
Explanation: Köppen uses the group E for polar climates, where low temperatures severely constrain vegetation. India’s high Himalayan elevations exhibit very cold alpine conditions, while tropical and desert climates use different codes based on temperature and precipitation.
Q47. Why do most parts of India receive rainfall between June and September?
[SSC CGL Tier I (21 July 2023, Shift 1)]
(A) South-West monsoon
(B) Very cold nights
(C) High pressure in those months
(D) North-East monsoon
Answer: (A) South-West monsoon
Explanation: Southwest monsoon winds carry moisture from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal across the subcontinent during June–September. Summer heating and the monsoon trough help sustain their inflow. The northeast monsoon is important later, especially in Tamil Nadu.
Q46. Which instrument sends electromagnetic pulses into the atmosphere to detect precipitation intensity, speed and type?
[SSC CGL Tier I (21 July 2023, Shift 3)]
(A) Barometer
(B) Spectral pyranometer
(C) Sonic anemometer
(D) Doppler weather radar
Answer: (D) Doppler weather radar
Explanation: Doppler weather radar transmits electromagnetic pulses and analyzes returned signals from raindrops, snow or hail. Changes in the echoes reveal precipitation movement and intensity. A barometer measures atmospheric pressure, whereas a pyranometer measures incoming solar radiation.
Q45. Where do the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal branches of the summer monsoon merge?
[SSC CGL Tier I (20 July 2023, Shift 2)]
(A) South of Peninsula
(B) Coromandel Coast
(C) North-western Ganga Plains
(D) North of Deccan Plateau
Answer: (C) North-western Ganga Plains
Explanation: After following different trajectories, the two major monsoon branches converge toward the northwestern part of the Ganga plains. Moisture-bearing winds then interact with local pressure systems and relief. This is part of the overall southwest monsoon circulation.
Q44. Which local pre-monsoon rain helps coffee flowers bloom in Karnataka?
[SSC CGL Tier I (20 July 2023, Shift 3)]
(A) Norwesters
(B) Loo
(C) Mango shower
(D) Blossom shower
Answer: (D) Blossom shower
Explanation: Blossom showers are early seasonal rains that stimulate flowering in coffee plantations of Karnataka. Their timing matters for coffee production. Mango showers refer to pre-monsoon rain associated with fruit ripening, while Loo is a hot and dry summer wind.
Q43. According to the traditional Indian calendar, Hemanta occurs in which months?
[SSC CGL Tier I (20 July 2023, Shift 1)]
(A) Shravana–Bhadra
(B) Chaitra–Vaishakha
(C) Jyeshtha–Ashadha
(D) Margashirsha–Pausha
Answer: (D) Margashirsha–Pausha
Explanation: Hemanta represents the early or pre-winter period in the traditional six-season cycle and corresponds broadly to November–January. The months Margashirsha and Pausha fall in this season. This calendar division is separate from the four meteorological seasons.
Q42. Which climatic region and place pairing is incorrectly matched?
[SSC CGL Tier I (18 July 2023, Shift 4)]
(A) Mountain climate—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand
(B) Tropical monsoon—Western Ghats, Malabar Coast, southern Assam
(C) Semi-arid steppe—interior Karnataka and Maharashtra
(D) Hot desert—Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat
Answer: (A) Mountain climate—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand
Explanation: Mountain climates are associated with high-elevation relief, particularly the Himalayas, rather than the plains of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. The other options describe recognizable monsoon, semi-arid and desert climatic zones within India.
Q41. What type of Indian climate does Köppen’s code Cwg denote?
[SSC CGL Tier I (18 July 2023, Shift 2)]
(A) Monsoon with dry winter
(B) Semi-arid steppe
(C) Polar climate
(D) Monsoon with dry summer
Answer: (A) Monsoon with dry winter
Explanation: In the climatic coding used in the examination, Cwg refers to a monsoon-influenced climate with dry winters. Köppen classifications group climates by seasonal temperature and rainfall patterns. This category differs from dry steppe or very cold polar environments.
