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 2023Geography · Climatology
Q1. With reference to the Earth’s atmosphere, which one of the following statements is correct?
Explanation
Option (a) is incorrect: Though it is accurate that the equator receives greater direct sunlight in comparison to the poles, the disparity in insolation is not as substantial as tenfold. The variance in insolation between the equator and poles predominantly arises from the curvature of the Earth and the inclination of its axis, causing sunlight to strike different latitudes at varying angles. Instead of a tenfold difference, the actual variation is estimated to be around 2.5 times.
Option (b) is incorrect: Insolation denotes the entirety of solar radiation reaching the Earth’s surface, encompassing a wide range of electromagnetic radiation. Although infrared radiation constitutes a substantial portion (about 49 %) of solar radiation, it does not represent two-thirds of the insolation. Insolation comprises visible light, ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and various other wavelengths along-side infrared radiation.
Option (c) is correct: The atmosphere warms up by absorbing longwave radiation emitted from the Earth’s surface, mainly in the form of infrared radiation. Water vapor is a strong absorber of infrared radiation. In the lower atmosphere, where its concentration is higher, it absorbs a significant portion of the Earth’s emitted infrared radiation.
Option (d) is incorrect: Infrared radiation is not part of the visible range, infrared radiation has wavelengths longer than those of visible light and is not perceptible to the human eye.
Exam tip:
For S1, 10 times sounds exaggerated. Yes, poles receive less, but not that drastically. Extreme figures (like "10 times") in UPSC are often red flags, hence likely false. For S2, If IR were 2/3 of insolation, the Sun wouldn’t look so bright -- it would be mostly invisible to us (since IR is not visible), hence likely false. For S4, Use basic science logic: Visible = what we can see IR is invisible. Hence likely false.
UPSC 2023Geography · Climatology
Q2. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The soil in tropical rain forests is rich in nutrients. Statement-II: The high temperature and moisture of tropical rain forests cause dead organic matter in the soil to decompose quickly. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
Statement-I is incorrect: The tropical rainforest occurs near the equator and close to the tropics. Thus it receives heavy rainfall throughout the year. The heavy rain causes intense leaching of the soil which increases the acidity of the soil. Due to increased acidity, there is an issue of less nutrient absorption from the soil. Thus the claim that tropical rain forests are rich in nutrients is inappropriate.
Statement II is correct: As the tropical rainforest lies in a region of heavy rainfall and near to tropics, thus the climate here is hot and humid. This causes the rapid decomposition of the dead organic material present in the soil. Hence, Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.
UPSC 2023Geography · Climatology
Q3. Consider the following statements: Statement-I: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during summer than in winter. Statement-II: The specific heat of water is more than that of the land surface. Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
Explanation
Statement-I is incorrect: The temperature contrast between continents and oceans is greater during winter than in summer. The reason for this is:
In summer, the land heats up faster than water due to its lower specific heat capacity. However, both the land and oceans are warm, so the temperature difference is relatively smaller. In winter, land cools down more rapidly than water because water has a higher specific heat capacity. This leads to a larger temperature contrast between the cooler land and relatively warmer oceans. Statement-II is correct: Specific heat is the amount of heat energy it takes to raise or lower the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1°Celsius. The specific heat of water is greater than that of dry soil, thus, water absorbs and releases heat more slowly than land.
Exam tip:
For S1, When evaluating temperature contrast between land and ocean, always assess which season allows for a larger numerical difference. Land can cool to below -20°C in winter, while the adjacent ocean remains near 10-20°C, resulting in a 30-40°C gap. In contrast, during summer, land may reach up to 45-50°C, but ocean surfaces typically warm only to around 30°C, limiting the contrast to 15-20°C. Hence S1 likely false.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2023
(c) Infrared waves are largely absorbed by water vapour that is concentrated in the lower atmosphere
2
2023
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
3
2023
(d) Statement-I is incorrect but Statement-II is correct
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.
