World Climate and Climate ChangeClass 11 Fundamentals of Physical Geography NCERT Solutions
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Q11. Multiple choice questions.
(i) Which one of the following is suitable for Koeppen's "A" type of climate?
(a)
High rainfall in all the months
(b)
Mean monthly temperature of the coldest month more than freezing point
(c)
Mean monthly temperature of all the months more than 18°C
(d)
Average temperature for all the months below 10 C
Solution
(c) Mean monthly temperature of all the months more than 18°C
According to Koeppen's classification as described in Table 11.1, the 'A - Tropical' climate group is characterized by an average temperature of the coldest month being 18°C or higher. This implies that the mean temperature for all months is above 18°C.
Q21. Multiple choice questions.
(ii) Koeppen's system of classification of climates can be termed as :
(a)
Applied
(b)
Systematic
(c)
Genetic
(d)
Empirical
Solution
(d) Empirical
The source material explicitly states, "The most widely used classification of climate is the empirical climate classification scheme developed by V. Koeppen." It further clarifies that this classification is based on observed data, particularly mean annual and monthly temperature and precipitation, which is the definition of an empirical approach.
Q31. Multiple choice questions.
(iii) Most of the Indian Peninsula will be grouped according to Koeppen's system under:
(a)
"Af"
(b)
"BSh"
(c)
"Cfb"
(d)
"Am"
Solution
(d) "Am"
The text specifies the location for the Tropical Monsoon Climate (Am) by stating, "Tropical monsoon climate (Am) is found over the Indian sub-continent, North Eastern part of South America and Northern Australia."
Q41. Multiple choice questions.
(iv) Which one of the following years is supposed to have recorded the warmest temperature the world over?
(a)
1990
(b)
1998
(c)
1885
(d)
1950
Solution
(b) 1998
As mentioned in the section 'Climate in the recent past', the text highlights that "The year 1998 was the warmest year, probably not only for the 20th century but also for the whole millennium."
Q51. Multiple choice questions.
(v) Which one of the following groups of four climates represents humid conditions?
(a)
A-B-C-E
(b)
A-C-D-E
(c)
B-C-D-E
(d)
A-C-D-F
Solution
(b) A-C-D-E
The text states, "The capital letters : A,C, D and E delineate humid climates and B dry climates." Therefore, the group representing humid conditions is A, C, D, and E.
Q12. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i) Which two climatic variables are used by Koeppen for classification of the climate?
Solution
Koeppen's classification of climate is an empirical scheme based on two primary climatic variables: temperature and precipitation. He used mean annual and mean monthly data of these two variables to define climatic groups and types.
Q22. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(ii) How is the "genetic" system of classification different from the "empirical one"?
Solution
The genetic system of classification is different from the empirical one because it focuses on the causes of climate. Genetic classification attempts to organize climates according to their origins, whereas empirical classification is based on observed data and statistics, such as temperature and precipitation, without considering the causes.
Q32. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(iii) Which types of climates have very low range of temperature?
Solution
The Tropical Wet Climate (Af) has a very low range of temperature, with the text stating its annual range is negligible. The Marine West Coast Climate (Cfb) also has a small annual and daily temperature range due to significant marine influence.
Q42. Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(iv) What type of climatic conditions would prevail if the sun spots increase?
Solution
According to the text, some meteorologists suggest that an increase in the number of sunspots is associated with changes in climatic conditions. It is believed that when sunspot numbers increase, cooler and wetter weather and greater storminess occur.
Q13. Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
(i) Make a comparison of the climatic conditions between the "A" and "B" types of climate.
Solution
The 'A' (Tropical Humid) and 'B' (Dry) types of climate in Koeppen's classification represent fundamentally different environmental conditions, primarily distinguished by the availability of moisture.
A - Tropical Humid Climates:
- Defining Characteristic: These are temperature-based climates, defined by having the average temperature of the coldest month at 18°C or higher. They are consistently hot and humid.
- Precipitation: They receive high annual rainfall. The subtypes (Af, Am, Aw) are differentiated by the seasonality of this rainfall, from no dry season to a distinct winter dry season.
- Location: These climates are found between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
B - Dry Climates:
- Defining Characteristic: These climates are defined by a lack of precipitation. Potential evaporation exceeds precipitation, leading to a moisture deficit. They are not defined by temperature alone.
- Precipitation: They are characterized by very low and highly variable rainfall, which is inadequate for the growth of most plants.
- Location: They cover vast areas, extending from low latitudes (15°-30°) in subtropical high-pressure zones to mid-latitudes (35°-60°) in the interior of continents.
In summary, the primary difference is that 'A' climates are hot and wet, supporting lush vegetation, while 'B' climates are defined by their aridity, where lack of water is the main limiting factor for life.
Q23. Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
(ii) What type of vegetation would you find in the "C" and "A" type(s) of climate?
Solution
The type of vegetation found in 'A' and 'C' climates is closely related to their temperature and precipitation characteristics, as identified by Koeppen.
A - Tropical Humid Climates:
The consistently high temperatures and abundant rainfall in 'A' type climates support dense and diverse vegetation. The specific types mentioned in the text are:
- Tropical Wet (Af): This climate supports tropical evergreen forests with a dense canopy cover and significant biodiversity.
- Tropical Wet and Dry (Aw): This climate, with its distinct dry season, supports deciduous forests and tree-shredded grasslands.
C - Warm Temperate (Mid-latitude) Climates:
The source text does not explicitly detail the vegetation types for the 'C' group climates. However, Koeppen's scheme is based on the relationship between climate and vegetation. The name 'Warm Temperate' and the descriptions of mild winters and warm summers (e.g., in Cfa, Cfb, Cs climates) suggest that these climates would typically support a variety of forests, such as broad-leaved deciduous and evergreen forests, and Mediterranean scrub vegetation. The text itself, however, primarily focuses on the climatic characteristics for this group.
Q33. Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
(iii) What do you understand by the term "Greenhouse Gases"? Make a list of greenhouse gases.
Solution
The term "Greenhouse Gases" refers to specific gases in the atmosphere that contribute to the greenhouse effect, which is the process that warms the Earth's surface. The atmosphere is transparent to incoming short-wave solar radiation, allowing it to reach and warm the Earth. However, it absorbs the vast majority of the long-wave radiation (heat) emitted upwards by the Earth's surface. The gases that absorb this outgoing long-wave radiation are called greenhouse gases. By trapping this heat, they keep the planet's temperature warmer than it would otherwise be, similar to how glass panels trap heat inside a greenhouse.
According to the source text, the primary greenhouse gases (GHGs) of concern are:
- Carbon dioxide (CO₂)
- Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
- Methane (CH₄)
- Nitrous oxide (N₂O)
- Ozone (O₃)
Q1Project Work
Collect information about Kyoto declaration related to global climate changes.
Solution
Based on the information provided in the chapter, the Kyoto Protocol is a significant international effort initiated to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the atmosphere and address global warming.
Key points about the Kyoto Protocol mentioned in the text are:
- Proclamation: It was proclaimed in 1997.
- Effective Date: The protocol went into effect in 2005.
- Ratification: It was ratified by 141 nations.
- Objective: Its main goal was to bind industrialized countries to specific targets for reducing their GHG emissions.
- Target: The protocol required 35 industrialized countries to reduce their collective emissions by the year 2012 to a level that was 5 percent less than the levels prevalent in the year 1990.