Physical Geography: Climatology Previous Year Questions

Following are the questions on Climatology (Paper-1, Physical Geography) that previously appeared in Civil Services Mains (Optional) Examination:

• Year 2014: What is the nature and origin of Indian monsoon? And what are the recent techniques for the prediction of it? AND Describe the origin and development of thunderstorms by giving suitable examples. AND What are the salient features of Sirocco and Mistral winds?
• Year 2013: What is DEW point? What are the various forms of condensation? AND What is the impact of local winds on the climate of an area? Give suitable examples. AND What are the difference between Storm Surges and Seiches?
• Year 2012: What is the impact of Cryosphere on the climate of the world? AND Classification of air masses and explain how cP airmass affects the global climate? AND Compare and contrast tropical cyclone and temperate cyclones.
• Year 2011: Global distribution of precipitation. AND Discuss "Contemporary global climate change is an anthropogenic phenomena".
• Year 2010: What do you mean by inversion of temperature? AND What do you mean by polar front? and how does a cyclone develop along this front? Also describe the conditions of whether associated with it. AND What are various kinds of atmospheric humidity and their associated forms?
• Year 2009: Discuss affect of climate change on urban areas.
• Year 2008: Explain the mechanism and origin of Monsoon winds. What is the role of El Nino on the circulation of the Monsoon?
• Year 2007: Discuss the development of local winds and their influence on local weather. Give 3 examples of popular local winds in the world.
• Year 2006: Compare tropical cyclone with temperate cyclone, with reference to their structure and associated weather conditions with them.
• Year 2005: What are the salient features of climate classification system evolved by Koppen. Discuss the anomalies associated with it.
• Year 2004: No question asked.
• Year 2003: What is the mechanism and significance of tri-cellular meridional circulation of the atmosphere?
• Year 2002: What was the criteria which Thornthwaite adopted in his classification of world climate in 1948.
• Year 2001: What are air masses and how they are classified?
• Year 2000: Distribution of precipitation in the world.
• Year 1999: Compare tropical and temperate cyclones.
• Year 1998: What is the nature and composition of Earth’s atmosphere?
• Year 1997: What do you mean by air masses and how do they originate? Classify air masses and state the characteristics of any one of them.
• Year 1996: Critically examine the drawbacks of Koppen's classification of climates. How Thornthwaite attempted to overcome the limitations of Koppen's classification.
• Year 1995: Explain and illustrate the life cycle of a temperate cyclone. What are the weather conditions associated with a temperate cyclone?
• Year 1994: Koppen's classification of climates along with its merits and limitations.
• Year 1993: No question asked.
• Year 1992: What is the origin, movements and characteristics of air masses? How air masses influence the climate of the world?
• Year 1991: What is the origin, distribution and characteristics of tropical cyclones?