UPSC MCQ: Physical Geography- 2 - UPSC MCQ

If the lava is fluid, it will flow quickly and form a gentle slope. If the slope formed is steep, the lava must have been viscous. Viscous lava has high silica content and such volcanoes are explosive.

Chemical weathering is what happens when rocks are broken down and chemically altered. Frost action and repeated wetting and drying are the process of physical weathering. Oxidation of minerals in rocks by moisture is chemical weathering. Another process of chemical weathering would be decomposition by organic acids

Mass movement or mass wasting is movements of masses of bodies of soil, bedrock, rock debris, soil, or mud which usually occur along steep-sided hills and mountains because of the pull of gravity. This slipping of large amounts of rock and soil is seen in landslides, mud slides, and avalanches.

Landslides occur when masses of rock, earth, or debris move down a slope. They may be very small or very large, and can move at slow to very high speeds. However, slow movement is also seen in the gradual downhill creep of soil on gently sloping land.

The Narmada, also called the Rewa, is a river in central India and the fifth longest river in the Indian subcontinent. It is the third longest river that flows entirely within India, after the Godavari, and the Krishna. It is one of only three major rivers in peninsular India that run from east to west (longest west flowing river), along with the Tapi River and the Mahi River. It is one of the rivers in India that flows in a rift valley, flowing west between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges. The other rivers which flow through rift valley include Damodar River in Chota Nagpur Plateau and Tapi. The Tapi River and Mahi River also flow through rift valleys, but between different ranges.

The correct option is C.
In a headland, processes of erosion are usually active where there are joints or faults. Wave energy works on these areas and gouges or hollow them out to form caves. In due course, the erosion may lead to two back to back caves breaking through the headland, forming an arch.Erosional landforms include headlands, bays, caves, arches, stacks, stumps and wave-cut platforms. There are also depositional landforms such as beaches, spits and bars.

Most of the forests are owned by Government through various departments such as forest department. Corporate owned forests are lesser than government owned. A negligible portion of less than one percent is privately owned.

The correct option is Option C.
The latitude denotes a geographical coordinate of a place located on the surface of the earth and is the angular distance of that point (north or south of the equator) measured with respect to the Centre of the Earth. Its value is zero at the equator and 90 degrees at the poles.
 

These areas get more than 200 cm of annual rainfall. These include Western Coast and Western Ghats, Sub-Himalayas, and the North-east parts of India.

River rejuvenation involves a renewed period of vertical erosion to achieve a new and lower base level. Rejuvenation occurs when the river’s base level falls (i.e. when sea level falls). This can be a consequence of either a fall in the amount of sea water or the land rising. Uplift of land over which the river is flowing steepens the slope so that active down cutting is renewed. A fall in sea-level (and not rise ) causes river rejuvenation. A fall in sea level leaves the flood plain at an increased altitude above the sea level. The river with its renewed vigour cuts into the former flood plain, leaving behind terraces on both sides of the river

The correct option is Option D.

The major jet streams are westerly winds (flowing west to east) in the Northern Hemisphere. During the summer, easterly jets can form in tropical regions, typically in a region where dry air encounters more humid air at high altitudes. Meteorologists use the location of the jet stream as an aid in weather forecasting.

D is the correct option.Ocean currents can be caused by wind, density differences in water masses caused by temperature and salinity variations, gravity, and events, forces from the Earth's rotation, and the position of landforms that interact with the currents. 

D is the correct option.  
Patkai Bum – Border between Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar. 
Naga Hills. Manipuri Hills – Border between Manipur and Myanmar.It is located in India extending into Myanmar which forms a divide between India and Myanmar.
The Lushai Hills are a mountain range in Mizoram and Tripura, India. The range is part of the Patkai range system and its highest point is 2,157 m high Phawngpui, also known as 'Blue Mountain'.

Warm ocean currents like the Westerlies travel  all the way from  equator to eastern coast of north america and western coast of Europe during winter. As the  westerlies are warm currents originate from equator and travel towards western European coast, western European ports remain ice free during winter.

Correct Answer :- B

Explanation : The third statement about change in cropping pattern is also correct. Punjab and Haryana region are best suited for wheat, but farmers are increasingly growing rice there. Punjab and Haryana are battling with crop diversification to reduce depletion of groundwater due to higher area under water-guzzling paddy crop. To irrigate their fields, farmers in both states draw groundwater using tubewells, which has lowered the water table to alarming levels, even if rainfall is deficient or scanty.

The correct option is D.
Khetri Nagar, well known for its Copper Project, was built by and is under the control of Hindustan Copper Limited, a public sector undertaking under the Government of India. Khetri Nagar is also very well known with the name of 'Copper'.
, Balaghat Minerals is the leading manufacturer and wholesaler of Manganese Ingots, Manganese Dioxide, Manganese Ore.

Air pressure increases when air descends. Air pressure at sea level is higher than at the mountain top.

The correct option is Option A.

Fresh snow reflects up to 95% of the incoming radiation. Therefore, fresh snow has a high albedo of 0.95.

A typical ocean albedo is approximately 0.06, while bare sea ice varies from approximately 0.5 to 0.7. This means that the ocean reflects only 6 percent of the incoming solar radiation and absorbs the rest.

River water reflects about 10% of the incoming radiation, resulting in a low albedo of 0.1.

The correct option is Option B.

Eastern Ghats are not a continuous chain of mountains. They are broken because most of the rivers are wide when flowing through Eastern Ghats. They spread out forming deltas near the seas.

The Garhjat Range is a northeastern prolongation of the eastern Ghats which rises abruptly and steeply in the east and slopes gently to a dissected plateau in the west running from north-west (Mayurbhanj) to south-west (Malkangiri). North of the Palar River in Andhra Pradesh, the central portion of the Eastern Ghats consists of two parallel ranges running approximately north-south. Its northern boundaries are marked by the flat Palnadu basin, while in the south it merges with the Tirupati hills.

Grasslands of the world are famous for wheat cultivation ( steppes know as granaries of the world ), pastoral farming, safari tourism ( savanah in Africa – the big game country ). Additional, the downs in New Zealand are also famous for wool.

Explanation:

1. Rich in humus:
- Forest soils are typically rich in organic matter, including humus, which is formed from the decomposition of plant and animal materials.
- Humus helps to improve soil structure, fertility, and moisture retention, making forest soils ideal for supporting diverse plant and animal life.

2. Deficient in phosphorous and potash:
- While forest soils are generally nutrient-rich due to the presence of organic matter, they can be deficient in certain essential nutrients like phosphorous and potash.
- Phosphorous and potash are important for plant growth and development, and their deficiency can limit the productivity of forest ecosystems.

Conclusion:
Both statements are correct. Forest soils are rich in humus but may be deficient in phosphorous and potash, highlighting the importance of nutrient management in forest ecosystems.

Western ghats run through six states – Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Peninsular rivers have lower erosional capacity, but because of hard rock surface in the region and non-alluvial character of plateau, they travel almost straight and thus do not form meanders

Equator receives less insolation than tropic due to heavy cloud cover. Remember insolation is the amount of sunlight received at the surface of earth per unit area. So the clouds obstruct the sunlight and hence equator receives less insolation. Similarly, Oceans are significantly cloudier than continents and hence receive less insolation

To accurately determine the order from north to south, we should verify the latitudes once more:

• Mandalay, Myanmar: Latitude approximately 21.98° N
• Dhaka, Bangladesh: Latitude approximately 23.81° N
• Karachi, Pakistan: Latitude approximately 24.86° N
• Jodhpur, India: Latitude approximately 26.29° N

Correct order from north to south:

1. Jodhpur (26.29° N) - The northernmost town.
2. Karachi (24.86° N) - Further south than Jodhpur but north of Dhaka.
3. Dhaka (23.81° N) - Further south than Karachi.
4. Mandalay (21.98° N) - The southernmost town.

So, the correct order from north to south is:

1. Jodhpur
2. Karachi
3. Dhaka
4. Mandalay

Option 2 : Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas
 

The correct answer is Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas.Key Points

• Kanchenjunga:-
  • ​It is the third-highest mountain peak in the world and is located in the eastern Himalayas, specifically between Nepal and Sikkim, India.
  • Darjeeling and Sikkim Himalayas are part of the Eastern Himalayan range, which is known for its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage.