Climatology: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Geography)
3 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Climatology (Geography). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–3 of 3 questions
UPSC 2015Geography · Climatology
Q1. In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific regions in tropical latitudes, cyclones do not originate. What is the reason?
Explanation
Option (a) is incorrect: While cool sea surface temperatures can hinder cyclone formation, there are instances where localized warming (e.g., due to anomalies like El Niño) can occur in these regions. However, cyclones still rarely form, suggesting that low sea surface temperature alone isn’t the primary reason.
Option (b) is correct: In the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific tropical regions, the ITCZ seldom occurs or is weak and displaced. This lack of persistent convergence means that there is insufficient atmospheric instability and rising air currents needed for cyclone formation.
Option (c) is incorrect: The Coriolis force is indeed weak near the equator, but the South Atlantic and South-Eastern Pacific are far enough from the equator for the Coriolis force to induce the necessary rotation for cyclones. Cyclones frequently form at similar latitudes in other ocean basins (e.g., the North Atlantic or the North-Western Pacific), so this isn’t the limiting factor in these regions.
Option (d) is incorrect: Cyclones form over oceans, not land, as they require moisture and heat from the sea. The absence of land actually favors cyclone formation, as land disrupts and weakens cyclones.
UPSC 2015Geography · Climatology
Q2. Consider the following statements: 1. The winds which blow between 30°N and 60°S latitudes throughout the year are known as westerlies. 2.The moist air masses that cause winter rains in North-Western region of India are part of westerlies. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
Statement 1 is incorrect: Generally the westerlies flow between 30°N and 60°N and 30°S and 60°S latitude respectively, not between 30°N and 60°S latitudes.
Statement 2 is correct: The moist air masses that cause winter rains in the north-western region of India are indeed part of the westerlies. These are often referred to as winter disturbances or western disturbances, which bring moisture from the Mediterranean region, contributing to the winter rainfall in parts of India, especially the north-west.
Exam tip:
For S1, Look closely: the range given is asymmetrical--from 30°N to 60°S, crossing both hemispheres unevenly. Why would a wind belt stop at 30°N and go all the way to 60°S? That doesn’t follow the global wind pattern logic, which is typically symmetrical across the equator (e.g., 30°-60° in both hemispheres). Hence S1 likely false.
UPSC 2015Geography · Climatology
Q3. "Each day is more or less the same, the morning is clear and bright with a sea breeze; as the Sun climbs high in the sky, heat mounts up, dark clouds form, then rain comes with thunder and lightning. But the rain is soon over." Which of the following regions is described in the above passage?
Explanation
The passage describes a typical daily weather pattern characterized by:
Clear and bright mornings with a sea breeze.
As the Sun climbs high, heat builds up, causing dark clouds to form. Afternoon rain with thunder and lightning. The rain is short-lived, and this pattern repeats daily. This pattern is characteristic of equatorial regions, which experience convectional rainfall due to the intense heating of the Earth’s surface throughout the day. The high humidity and consistent temperatures near the equator lead to daily thunderstorms, often in the afternoon.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2015
(b) Inter-tropical Convergence Zone seldom occurs
2
2015
(b) 2 only
3
2015
(b) Equatorial
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Climatology?
This page covers 3 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Climatology (Geography), asked from 1996 to 2025. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Climatology?
Questions on Climatology (Geography) are available for 24 years, from 1996 to 2025. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
