by Sudarshan Gurjar

Check out Previous Years Mains Questions

Trends- Climatology

1.Discuss the Concept of Airmass and explain its role in macro climate changes?
2.Tropical Cyclones are largely confined to South China Sea, Bay of Bengal & Gulf of
Mexico .Why?
3.Bring out the causes for the formation of heat Island in Urban habitat of the World?
4.Major hot Deserts in Northern Hemisphere are located between 20 – 30 North Latitude
and Western Side of the Continents Why?
5.As Regards the increasing rates of melting of Arctic Sea Ice the Interest of the Arctic
Council nations may not coincide with those of wider world?
6.How does Cryosphere affect Global Climate?

by Sudarshan Gurjar
Check out Previous Years Prelims
Questions Trends-
Climatology – Structure of Atmosphere

by Sudarshan Gurjar
Which one of the following layers of the atmosphere is responsible for the deflection of radio waves? [1996]

(a) Troposphere (b) Stratosphere

(c) Mesosphere (d) Ionosphere
The correct sequence of different layers of the atmosphere from the surface of the Earth upwards is: [1998]

(a) Troposphere, Stratosphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere

(b) Stratosphere, Troposphere, Ionosphere, Mesosphere
(c) Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Ionosphere
(d) Stratosphere, Troposphere, Mesosphere, Ionosphere
Assertion (A) : Thickness of the atmosphere is maximum over the Equator.
Reason (R) : High insolation and strong convection currents occur over the Equator. [2004]

(a) Both A and R are individually true and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are individually true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Consider the following statements: [2008]

l. Albedo of an object determines its visual brightness when viewed with reflected light.
2. Albedo of Mercury is much greater than the albedo of the Earth.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
A layer in the Earth’s atmosphere called ionosphere facilities radio communication. Why ?

1. The presence of ozone causes the reflection of radio waves to earth.

2. Radio waves have a very long wavelength.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only (b) 2 only [2011 - I]
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
What is difference between asteroids and comets ?

1. Asteroids are small rocky planetoids, while comets are formed of frozen gases held together by rocky and metallic
material.
2. Asteroids are found mostly between the orbits of Jupiter and Mars, while comets are found mostly between Venus
and Mercury.
3. Comets show a perceptible glowing tail, while asteroids do not. [2011 - I]

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 3 only (d) 1,2 and 3
The jet aircrafts fly very easily and smoothly in the lower stratosphere. What could be the appropriate
explanation ?

1. There are no clouds or water vapour in the lower stratosphere.

2. There are no vertical winds in the lower stratosphere.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct in

this context ? [2011 - I]
(a) 1 only (b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Consider the following factors: [2012 - I]

1. Rotation of the Earth

2. Air pressure and wind
3. Density of ocean water
4. Revolution of the Earth

Which of the above factors influence the ocean

currents?
(a) 1 and 2 only (b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4 (d) 2, 3 and 4
Normally, the temperature decreases with the increase in height from the Earth’s surface, because [2012 - I]

1. the atmosphere can be heated upwards only from the Earth's surface
2. there is more moisture in the upper atmosphere
3. the air is less dense in the upper atmosphere

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

(a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
The annual range of temperature in the interior of the continents is high as compared to coastal areas.
What is/are the reason/reasons? [2013 - I]

1. Thermal difference between land and water

2. Variation in altitude between continents and oceans
3. Presence of strong winds in the interior
4. Heavy rains in the interior as compared to coasts

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.

(a) 1 only (b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Atmosphere
Our planet earth is enveloped by a deep blanket of gases extending several thousands of kilometres
above its surface. This gaseous cover of the earth is known as the atmosphere.
Composition of Atmosphere

by Sudarshan Gurjar
Atmosphere
Our planet earth is enveloped by a deep blanket of gases extending several thousands of kilometres
above its surface. This gaseous cover of the earth is known as the atmosphere.
Composition of Atmosphere

by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
 The atmosphere is a
mixture of many
gases.
 In addition, it
contains huge
numbers of solid and
liquid particles,
collectively called
‘aerosols’.

by Sudarshan Gurjar
 Oxygen
 Oxygen, although constituting only 21% of total volume of atmosphere, is the
most important component among gases. All living organisms inhale oxygen.
Besides, oxygen can combine with other elements to form important compounds,
such as, oxides. Also, combustion is not possible without oxygen.

 Nitrogen
 Nitrogen accounts for 78% of total atmospheric volume. It is a relatively inert
gas, and is an important constituent of all organic compounds. The main function
of nitrogen is to control combustion by diluting oxygen. It also indirectly helps in
oxidation of different kinds

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 Major Greenhouse Gases found in Atmosphere

1) Carbon dioxide- Carbon Dioxide

 Being an efficient absorber of heat, carbon dioxide is considered to be of great
climatic significance. Carbon dioxide is considered to be a very important factor
in the heat energy budget.
 Meteorologically a very important gas as it is transparent to the incoming solar
radiation but opaque to the outgoing terrestrial radiation.
 It absorbs a part of terrestrial radiation and reflects back some part of it
towards the earth’s surface. It is largely responsible for the greenhouse effect.

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 2) Ozone-
 It is very small proportions at the surface. Ozone (03) is another important
gas in the atmosphere, which is actually a type of oxygen molecule consisting
of three, instead of two, atoms.
 It forms less than 0.00005% by volume of the atmosphere and is unevenly
distributed.
 It is between 20 km and 25 km altitude that the greatest concentrations of
ozone are found.
 It is formed at higher altitudes and transported downwards.
 Ozone plays a crucial role in blocking the harmful ultraviolet radiation from
the sun. Other gases found in almost negligible quantities in the atmosphere
are argon, neon, helium, hydrogen, xenon, krypton, methane etc.

by Sudarshan Gurjar
 3) Water vapour-
 It decreases with altitude. Water vapour also decreases from the equator towards the poles.
 In the warm and wet tropics, it may account for four percent of the air by volume, while in
the dry and cold areas of desert and polar regions, it may be less than one per cent of the air.
 It also absorbs parts of the insolation from the sun and preserves the earth’s radiated heat.
 It thus, acts like a blanket allowing the earth neither to become too cold nor too hot. Water
vapour also contributes to the stability and instability in the air.

 4) Methane- It is produced from decomposition of animal wastes and biological matter.

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by Sudarshan Gurjar
 Structure of Atmosphere
 The atmosphere can be studied as a layered entity – each layer having its own peculiar
characteristics. These layers are systematically discussed below.

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 Troposphere
 It is the atmospheric layer between the earth’s surface and an altitude of 8 km at
the poles and 18 km at the equator.
 The thickness is greater at the equator, because the heated air rises to greater
heights.
 The troposphere ends with the Tropopause.
 The temperature in this layer, as one goes upwards, falls at the rate of 5°C per
kilometre, and reaches -45°C at the poles and -80°C over the equator at
Tropopause (greater fall in temperature above equator is because of the greater
thickness of troposphere – 18 km).
 The fall in temperature is called ‘lapse rate
 It is also called the convective region, since all convection stops at Tropopause.
 The troposphere is the theatre for weather because all cyclones, anticyclones,
storms and precipitation occur here, as all water vapours and solid particles lie
within this.
 The troposphere is influenced by seasons and jet stream.
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 Tropopause
 Top most layer of troposphere.
 It acts as a boundary between troposphere and stratosphere.
 This layer is marked by constant temperatures.

 Why does temperature fall with elevation?

 When we move up a hill, there is a fall in temperature. The fall in temperature with
elevation is primarily due to two reasons which are following:
 A)With increase in elevation, the atmospheric pressure falls with fall in
temperature
 B) With increase in elevation, the concentration of greenhouse gases decrease
(Water vapour and carbon dioxide fall sharply with elevation). Hence the heat
absorption capacity of atmosphere will also decrease.
 This sort of fall in temperature with elevation is called Temperature Lapse and the
rate at which it happens is called Temperature Lapse Rate or simply Lapse rate.

by Sudarshan Gurjar
Stratosphere
 It lies beyond troposphere, up to an altitude of 50 km from the earth’s surface.
 The temperature in this layer remains constant for some distance but then
rises to reach a level of 0°C at 50 km altitude.
 This rise is due to the presence of ozone (harmful ultraviolet radiation is
absorbed by ozone).
 This layer is almost free from clouds and associated weather phenomenon,
making conditions most ideal for flying aeroplanes.
 So aeroplanes fly in lower stratosphere, sometimes in upper troposphere where
weather is calm.
 The temperature rises at a rate of 5°C per kilometre through the
ozonosphere.

 Mesosphere
 This is an intermediate layer beyond the ozone layer and continues upto an
altitude of 80 km from the earth’s surface.
 The temperature gradually falls to -100°C at 80 km altitude.
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
 Thermosphere
 In thermosphere temperature rises very rapidly with increasing height.
 Ionosphere is a part of this layer. It extends between 80-400 km.
 This layer helps in radio transmission. In fact, radio waves transmitted from the earth are
reflected back to the earth by this layer.
 Person would not feel warm because of the thermosphere’s extremely low pressure.
 The International Space Station and satellites orbit in this layer. (Though temperature is high,
the atmosphere is extremely rarified – gas molecules are spaced hundreds of kilometers apart.
Hence a person or an object in this layer doesn’t feel the heat

by Sudarshan Gurjar
Ionosphere
 This layer is located between 80 km and 400 km and is an electrically charged
layer.
 This layer is characterized by ionization of atoms.
 Because of the electric charge, radio waves transmitted from the earth are
reflected back to the earth by this layer.
 Temperature again starts increasing with height because of radiation from the sun

 Exosphere
 This is the uppermost layer of the atmosphere extending beyond the ionosphere
above a height of about 400 km.
 The air is extremely rarefied and the temperature gradually increases through the
layer.
 Light gases like helium and hydrogen float into the space from here.
 Temperature gradually increases through the layer. (As it is exposed to direct
sunlight)
 This layer coincides with space.
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
 a natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance
of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, especially near
the northern or southern magnetic pole. The effect is caused by
the interaction of charged particles from the sun with atoms in
the upper atmosphere. In northern and southern regions it is
respectively called aurora borealis or Northern Lights and aurora
australis or Southern Lights.

by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
by Sudarshan Gurjar
Factors Affecting Temperature Distribution

by Sudarshan Gurjar