Question 1

Q1: (i) The sun is directly overhead at noon on 21st June at: (a) The equator (b) 23.5 S (c) 23.5 N (d) 66.5 N

Accepted Answer

Answer: (c) 23.5 N Explanation: As shown in 'Figure 8.1: Summer Solstice' in the chapter, on 21st June, the sun's rays fall vertically on the Tropic of Cancer, which is located at 23.5° N latitude. This event is known as the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.

Question 2

Q2: (ii) In which one of the following cities, are the days the longest? (a) Tiruvanantpuram (b) Chandigarh (c) Hyderabad (d) Nagpur

Accepted Answer

Answer: (b) Chandigarh Explanation: The length of the day is a factor that influences the amount of insolation received. During the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the duration of daylight increases with increasing latitude. Among the given options, Chandigarh is located at the highest latitude,...

Question 3

Q3: (iii) The atmosphere is mainly heated by the: (a) Short wave solar radiation (b) Reflected solar radiation (c) Long wave terrestrial radiation (d) Sca...

Accepted Answer

Answer: (c) Long wave terrestrial radiation Explanation: The chapter states that the Earth's surface is heated by incoming short-wave solar radiation (insolation). The heated Earth then radiates this energy back into the atmosphere in the form of long waves. This process is called terrestrial radiat...

Question 4

Q4: (iv) Make correct pairs from the following two columns. | (i) Insolation | (a) The difference between the mean temperature of the warmest and the cold...

Accepted Answer

The correct pairs are as follows:    (i) Insolation matches with (c) The incoming solar radiation. The text defines insolation as incoming solar radiation.    (ii) Albedo matches with (d) The percentage of visible light reflected by an object. The text defines the albedo of the earth as the reflecte...

Question 5

Q5: (v) The main reason that the earth experiences highest temperatures in the subtropics in the northern hemisphere rather than at the equator is : (a) S...

Accepted Answer

Answer: (a) Subtropical areas tend to have less cloud cover than equatorial areas. Explanation: The chapter's section on 'Spatial Distribution of Insolation at the Earth's Surface' explicitly states, "Maximum insolation is received over the subtropical deserts, where the cloudiness is the least. Equ...

Question 6

Q1: (i) How does the unequal distribution of heat over the planet earth in space and time cause variations in weather and climate?

Accepted Answer

The unequal distribution of heat received from the sun across the Earth's surface creates temperature differences. According to the text, this variation causes pressure differences in the atmosphere, leading to the transfer of heat from one region to another by winds. This large-scale movement of ai...

Question 7

Q2: (ii) What are the factors that control temperature distribution on the surface of the earth?

Accepted Answer

The factors that control the temperature distribution on the Earth's surface, as listed in the chapter, are:    The latitude of the place    The altitude of the place    Distance from the sea    Air-mass circulation    The presence of warm and cold ocean currents    Local aspects

Question 8

Q3: (iii) In India, why is the day temperature maximum in May and why not after the summer solstice?

Accepted Answer

Although the sun's rays are most direct after the summer solstice (June 21st), temperatures in India are typically highest in May. This is because the transparency of the atmosphere, a key factor affecting insolation, is reduced after June due to the onset of the monsoon. The increased cloud cover d...

Question 9

Q4: (iv) Why is the annual range of temperature high in the Siberian plains?

Accepted Answer

The annual range of temperature is high in the Siberian plains due to 'continentality'. The region is located deep within the vast Eurasian landmass, far from the moderating influence of oceans. Land heats up and cools down much faster than water, resulting in extremely cold winters and hot summers,...

Question 10

Q1: (i) How do the latitude and the tilt in the axis of rotation of the earth affect the amount of radiation received at the earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

Latitude and the Earth's axial tilt are the two most significant factors determining the amount of solar radiation received at the surface. Latitude: The latitude of a place determines the angle of the sun's rays. At lower latitudes near the equator, the sun's rays are almost vertical, concentrating...

Question 11

Q2: (ii) Discuss the processes through which the earth-atmosphere system maintains heat balance.

Accepted Answer

The Earth-atmosphere system maintains a stable temperature by balancing the incoming solar energy with the outgoing terrestrial energy. This is known as the Earth's heat budget. The process can be explained by assuming the total incoming solar radiation (insolation) at the top of the atmosphere is 1...

Question 12

Q3: (iii) Compare the global distribution of temperature in January over the northern and the southern hemisphere of the earth.

Accepted Answer

The global distribution of temperature in January shows significant differences between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, primarily due to the unequal distribution of land and water. In the Northern Hemisphere, January is winter. The vast landmasses cool down rapidly, causing isotherms to bend...

Question 13

Q1: Select a meteorological observatory located in your city or near your town. Tabulate the temperature data as given in the climatological table of obse...

Accepted Answer

This project requires collecting data from a local meteorological observatory. The following explains how to approach each task based on the concepts in the chapter. (i) Note the altitude, latitude of the observatory and the period for which the mean is calculated. This information is crucial as lat...

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