NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Geography - Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems

Q1: Multiple choice questions.
(i) If the surface air pressure is 1,000 mb, the air pressure at 1 km above the surface will be:
(a) 700 mb
(b) 1,100 mb
(c) 900 mb
(d) 1,300 mb
Ans: (c)

(ii) The Inter Tropical Convergence Zone normally occurs: 
(a) near the Equator
(b) near the Tropic of Cancer
(c) near the Tropic of Capricorn
(d) near the Arctic Circle
Ans: (a)

(iii) The direction of wind around a low pressure in northern hemisphere is: 
(a) clockwise  
(b) perpendicular to isobars
(c) anti-clock wise
(d) parallel to isobars
Ans: (c)

(iv) Which one of the following is the source region for the formation of air masses? 
(a) the Equatorial forest
(b) the Himalayas
(c) the Siberian Plain
(d) the Deccan Plateau
Ans: (c)

Q2: Answer the following questions in about 30 words. 
(i) What is the unit used in measuring pressure? Why is the pressure measured at station level reduced to the sea level in preparation of weather maps?
Ans: Millibar or Pascal is the unit used in measuring pressure. It is reduced to the sea level in the preparation of weather maps as the gravity of air at the surface is denser and hence has higher pressure.

(ii) While the pressure gradient force is from north to south, i.e. from the subtropical high pressure to the equator in the northern hemisphere, why are the winds north easterlies in the tropics?
Ans: The Coriolis force acts perpendicular to the pressure gradient force. The pressure gradient force is perpendicular to an isobar. The higher the pressure gradient force, the more is the velocity of the wind and the larger is the deflection in the direction of wind. As a result of these two forces operating perpendicular to each other, in the low-pressure areas the wind blows around it. The winds blow from high pressure to the low pressure, so this pressure gradient force is from north to south. Therefore the north easterlies blow from north east to south west.

(iii) What are the geostrophic winds?
Ans: When isobars are straight and when there is no friction, the pressure gradient force is balanced by the Coriolis force and the resultant wind blows parallel to the isobar. This wind is known as the geostrophic wind.

(iv) Explain the land and sea breezes.
Ans: During the day the land heats up faster and becomes warmer than the sea. Therefore, over the land the air rises giving rise to a low pressure area, whereas the sea is relatively cool and the pressure over sea is relatively high. Thus, pressure gradient from sea to land is created and the wind blows from the sea to the land as the sea breeze. In the night the reversal of condition takes place. The land loses heat faster and is cooler than the sea. The pressure gradient is from the land to the sea. This is known as land breeze.

Q3: Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
(i) Discuss the factors affecting the speed and direction of wind.
Ans: The speed and direction o the wind is controlled by the combined effects of three forces:

• Pressure Gradient Force: The differences in atmospheric pressure produces a force. The rate of change of pressure with respect to distance is the pressure gradient. The pressure gradient is strong where the isobars are close to each other and is weak where the isobars are apart.
• Frictional Force: It affects the speed of the wind. It is greatest at the surface and its influence generally extends upto an elevation of 1 - 3 km. Over the sea surface the friction is minimal.
• Coriolis Force: The rotation of the earth about its axis affects the direction of the wind. This force is called the Coriolis force after the French physicist who described it in 1844. It deflects the wind to the right direction in the northern hemisphere and to the left in the southern hemisphere.

(ii) Draw a simplified diagram to show the general circulation of the atmosphere over the globe. What are the possible reasons for the formation of subtropical high pressure over 30°N and S latitudes?
Ans: 

The general circulation of the atmosphere also sets in motion the ocean water circulation which influences the earth’s climate. The air at the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) rises because of convection caused by high insolation and a low pressure is created. The winds from the tropics converge at this low pressure zone. The converged air rises along with the convective cell. It reaches
the top of the troposphere up to an altitude of 14 km. and moves towards the poles. This causes accumulation of air at about 30°N and S. Part of the accumulated air sinks to the ground and forms a subtropical high. Another reason for sinking is the cooling of air when it reaches 30°N and S latitudes.

(iii) Why does tropical cyclone originate over the seas? In which part of the tropical cyclone do torrential rains and high velocity winds blow and why?
Ans: Tropical cyclones originate and intensify over warm tropical oceans. The conditions favourable for the formation and intensification of tropical storms are:

• Large sea surface with temperature higher than 27° C.
• Presence of the Coriolis force.
• Small variations in the vertical wind speed.
• A pre-existing weaklow-pressure area or low-level-cyclonic circulation.
• Upper divergence above the sea level system.

The torrential rains and high velocity winds, occur in the region of the ‘eye-wall’. The eye is a region of calm with subsiding air. Around the eye is the eye wall, where there is a strong spiralling ascent of air to greater height reaching the tropopause. The wind reaches maximum velocity in this region, reaching as high as 250 km per hour.