Consider the following statements on 'Fog":

[UPSC CDS II 2023]

C
1. Fog is simply a cloud that forms close to the ground.

PS
2. Radiation fog is associated with radiation cooling of the land at night.

U
3. Advection fog forms when moisture is blown over a cold surface and is

F
chilled by contact.

O
S
Which of the statements given above are correct :

ET
C
(a) 1 and 2 only FA
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
 ANS : D

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one of the following is not a form of condensation?

(NDA 1 2021)

C
PS
U
A) Dew

F
O
B) Fog

S
ET
C) Frost
D) Sleet C
FA
 ANS : D

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Snow, sleet and hail are the forms of

[NDA I 2022]

C
PS
U
(a) precipitation

F
O
(b) condensation

S
ET
(c) transpiration
(d) evaporation C
FA
 ANS : A

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
CDS-II/2008

C
Mist is a result of which one of the following?

PS
A) Condensation

U
B) Evaporation

F
O
C) Sublimation

S
ET
D) Saturation
C
FA
Ans: a

Mist is a phenomenon caused by small droplets of water

C
PS
suspended in the cold air, usually by condensation.

U
F
O
S
ET
C
FA
Rain shadow effect is associated with :

(NDA 1 2015) (NDA II 2011)

C
PS
U
A) Cyclonic Rainfall

F
O
B) Orographic Rainfall

S
ET
C) Conventional Rainfall
D) Frontal Rainfall C
FA
 ANS : B

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
 (NDA-I/2019)
“Inversion of Rainfall” is associated with :

C
PS
A) Cyclonic Rainfall

U
B) Orographic Rainfall

F
O
C) Conventional Rainfall

S
ET
D) Frontal Rainfall
C
FA
 ANS : B

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
NDA-I/2011

C
Hot deserts like Sahara, Arabia etc. receive very negligible

PS
amount of rainfall. This is because they :

U
F
O
A) do not receive moisture-bearing wind from the oceans.

S
ET
B) are the most rocky and barren areas of the Earth.
C
C) are located on the tropical high pressure belt of the
FA
atmosphere.
D) are not on the path of the monsoons.
 ANS : C

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
(NDA-II/2009)

What is the reason for the major hot deserts of the world

C
lying in the western part of the tropical latitude?

PS
U
F
A) They are influenced by trade winds

O
B) They lie in the rain-shadow area of the mountains

S
ET
C) They are influenced by monsoon winds
C
FA
D) They are influenced by dry winds
 ANS : B

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one among the following is the most plausible
explanation for the location of the Thar Desert in Western
India?

C
(CAPF 2014)

PS
U
F
O
A) Prevalence of sand dunes

S
B) The evaporation of moisture by heat

ET
C) The absence of mountains to the North of Rajasthan to
C
FA
cause orographic rainfall in it
D) The moisture carried by the South- West Monsoon is
driven away by the dry upper air current
 ANS : C

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
HYDROLOGICAL CYCLE
Water is a cyclic resource. It can be used and re-used.

C
Water also undergoes a cycle from the ocean to land and

PS
land to ocean. The hydrological cycle describes the

U
movement of water on, in, and above the earth.

F
O
S
ET
The hydrological cycle, is the circulation of water within the
C
earth’s hydrosphere in different forms i.e. the liquid, solid
FA
and the gaseous phases.
With reference to the water on the planet Earth, consider the following statements:

[CSE 2021]

C
1. The amount of water in the rivers and lakes is more than the amount of

PS
groundwater.

U
2. The amount of water in polar ice caps and glaciers is more than the amount of

F
O
groundwater.

S
ET
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

C
FA
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
 Ans : b

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Divisions of the Ocean Floors The ocean floors can be
divided into four major divisions:
(i) the Continental Shelf;

C
PS
(ii) the Continental Slope;

U
(iii) the Deep Sea Plain;

F
O
(iv) the Oceanic Deeps.

S
ET
Besides, these divisions there are also major and minor
C
relief features in the ocean floors like ridges, hills, sea
FA
mounts, guyots, trenches, canyons, etc.
 Continental Shelf
The continental shelf is the extended margin of each

C
PS
continent occupied by relatively shallow seas and

U
gulfs. It is the shallowest part of the ocean showing an

F
O
average gradient of 1° or even less.

S
ET
C
FA
Which of the following statements with regard to the
continental shelf is NOT correct?

C
PS
(CAPF 2015)

U
F
O
(A) The shelves are absent close to plate boundaries

S
ET
(B) They are highly sedimented
C
(C) They have abrupt fall towards the continental slope
FA
(D) They are rich fishing areas
 Ans : c

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Continental Slope

C
The continental slope connects the continental shelf and

PS
the ocean basins. It begins where the bottom of the

U
continental shelf sharply drops off into a steep slope

F
O
S
ET
C
FA
Oceanic Deeps
or Trenches
These areas are the

C
PS
deepest parts of the

U
oceans. The

F
O
trenches are

S
relatively steep

ET
C
sided, narrow FA
basins.
 Minor Relief Features
Mid-Oceanic Ridges :

C
PS
It is composed of two chains of mountains

U
F
separated by a large depression. The

O
S
mountain ranges can have peaks as high as

ET
2,500 m and some even reach above the
C
FA
ocean’s surface. Iceland, a part of the mid
Atlantic Ridge, is an example
FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
The mid-ocean ridge is the most extensive chain of
mountains on Earth, stretching nearly 65,000 kilometers
and with more than 90 percent of the mountain range lying

C
PS
underwater, in the deep ocean.

U
F
O
S
ET
C
FA
consider the following statement

[UPSC CAPF 2023]

C
1. Many of the world’s largest mountain chains exist beneath the sea.

PS
2. Some mountain chains are revealed as island arcs.

U
3. The mid-oceanic ridges form the longest mountain chains.

F
4. The mid-Atlantic ridge rises 33 meters above the floor of the Atlantic.

O
S
Which of the statements given above are correct?

ET
C
(a) 1 and 2 only FA
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3 only
Ans : d

Explanation: Mid oceanic ridge forms an interconnected chain of Mountain system within the ocean.

C
It is the Longest mountain-chain on the surface of the Earth though submerged under the oceanic

PS
Waters.

U
It is characterised by a central rift System at the crest, a fractionated plateau and Flank zone all along its

F
length.

O
S
The rift system At the crest is the zone of intense volcanic Activity.

ET
C
The Mid Atlantic Ridge is about 3 km in height above the ocean floor and 1000 to 1500 km wide, has
FA
numerous transform faults and an axial rift valley along its length. The ridge was discovered in the
1950s.

Its discovery led to the theory of seafloor spreading and general acceptance of Wegener's theory of
continental drift.
Guyots

C
It is a flat topped seamount. They show evidences of

PS
gradual subsidence through stages to become flat

U
F
topped submerged mountains. It is estimated that

O
more than 10,000 seamounts and guyots exist in the

S
ET
Pacific Ocean alone.
C
FA
Atoll
These are low islands found in the tropical oceans

C
consisting of coral reefs surrounding a central

PS
depression. It may be a part of the sea (lagoon), or

U
F
sometimes form enclosing a body of fresh, brackish,

O
S
or highly saline water.

ET
C
FA
FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which of the following statements regarding neap tides is/are correct?

1. It occurs every 14-15 days, which coincides with the first and third quarter of the
Moon.
2. This tide has a small tidal range because the gravitational forces of the Moon

C
PS
and the Sun are in quadrature.

U
Select the answer using the code given below

F
O
S
[UPSC NDA I - 2024]

ET
C
(A) 1 only
FA
(B) 2 only
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
Ans : c

C
Neap Tides Cycle: The Moon completes its orbit around Earth approximately every

PS
29.5 days, which is known as a lunar month. Halfway through this cycle, when the

U
Moon is at first or third quarter (7-8 days and 21-22 days into the lunar month), we

F
experience neap tides.

O
S
Gravitational Forces in Quadrature: The term “quadrature” in astronomy refers to

ET
the right-angle arrangement of the Earth, the Moon, and the Sun. When the Moon

C
is at a 90-degree angle from the Sun, their gravitational pulls do not add up but
FA
instead partially cancel out. This results in less pronounced high and low tides.
Neap tides are an essential part of the tidal phenomenon and have implications for
marine navigation, fishing, and coastal ecosystems.
Consider the following statements with respect to 'tides':

1. The tidal bulges on wide continental shelves have greater height.

2. When tides are channeled between islands, they are called tidal currents.

C
PS
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

U
F
[UPSC CBI - 2024]

O
S
ET
(A) 1 only

C
(B) 2 only
FA
(C) Both 1 and 2
(D) Neither 1 nor 2
 Ans : c

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which of the following statements is correct about spring tides?

[UPSC CAPF 2023]

C
PS
U
A. High tide is higher than average high tide and low tide is higher

F
O
than average low tide.

S
B. High tide is lower than average high tide and low tide is higher

ET
than average low tide.
C
FA
C. High tide is higher than average high tide and low tide is lower
than average low tide.
D. High tide is lower than average high tide and low tide is lower
than average low tide.
Ans : c
When the difference between high and low tides is the highest, they are

C
called spring tides.

PS
U
Spring tides can be witnessed after the full moon and new moon.

F
O
They take place when the sun, moon, and earth are all in a line.

S
ET
It happens because the solar tides and lunar tides line up together to

C
reinforce one another, leading to a bigger total tide.
FA
The periodic rise and fall of ocean water in response to
gravitational forces is called :

C
PS
[NDA II 2021]

U
F
O
(a) Waves

S
ET
(b) Tides
(c) Currents C
FA
(d) Tsunami
 Ans : b

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
 Consider the following statements:

Statement 1: Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels, caused by the
combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the Moon and the

C
Sun and the rotation of the Earth.

PS
Statement 2: The Earth rotates from the West to East

U
F
(CDS 1 2018)

O
S
ET
A) Both statements are individually true and statement 2 is the correct
explanation of statement 1.
C
B)
FA
Both statements are individually true but statement 2 is not the correct
explanation of statement 1.
C) Statement 1 is true but statement 2 is false.
D) Statement 1 is false but statement 2 is true.
 Ans : b

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Tidal range denotes the

(CAPF 2009)

C
PS
U
A) rise of sea water and its movement toward the coast

F
O
B) fall of sea water and its movement toward the sea

S
ET
C) rise and fall of sea water due to gravitational forces
D) C
difference between high and low tide
FA
 ans : d

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
If a place is affected by Tide at 6.00 AM Monday , normally
at what time the same place will be affected by Ebb?

C
PS
(CAPF 2016)

U
F
O
(a) 6:26 PM Monday

S
ET
(b) 6:52 AM Tuesday
(c) 12:13 PM Monday C
FA
(d) 00:26 AM Tuesday
ans : c
A lunar day is a total time taken by the moon to make one orbit around the earth.

C
The moon is tidally locked to the earth. This means one side of the moon is always

PS
facing the earth.

U
The gravitational pull of the moon generates tidal force. The tidal force causes

F
Earth and its water to bulge out on the side closest to the Moon and the side

O
farthest from the Moon. These bulges of water are high tides.

S
The lunar day is roughly 24 hours and 50 minutes.

ET
Because the Earth rotates through two tidal “bulges” every lunar day, coastal

C
areas experience two high and two low tides every 24 hours and 50 minutes. High
FA
tides occur 12 hours and 25 minutes apart. It takes six hours and 12.5 minutes for
the water at the shore to go from high to low, or from low to high.
Hence, the ebb would be affected at 12:13 pm Monday
Consider the following statements:

[CSE 2000]

C
PS
1. Tides are of great help in navigation and fishing.

U
2. High tide enables big ships to enter or leave the harbour safely

F
3. Tide prevents siltation in the harbours

O
4. Kandla and Diamond Harbour are tidal ports

S
ET
Which of these statements are correct?
C
FA
(a) 1 and 4
(b) 2, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
 ans : d

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Assertion (A) : During the neap tides. The high tide is lower and the
low tide is higher than usual.

C
Reason (R) : The neap tide, unlike the spring tide, occurs on the new

PS
moon instead of on the full moon.

U
F
O
[CSE 2001]

S
ET
C
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
FA
(b) Both A and R are true but R is NOT a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
ans : c
The reason for lower high tide and higher low tide is - as it occurs on the

C
new moon. So the gravitational pull of the moon is less than the full moon

PS
U
F
O
S
ET
C
FA
Tides occur in the oceans and seas due to which among the following ?

[CSE 2015]

C
PS
1. Gravitational force of the Sun

U
2. Gravitational force of the Moon

F
3. Centrifugal force of the Earth

O
S
Select the correct answer using the code given below.

ET
C
(a) 1 only FA
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
 ans : d

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one of the following statements is not correct?

[CSE 2004]

C
PS
(a) Gulf with narrow fronts and wider rears experience

U
F
high tides.

O
(b) Tidal currents take place when a gulf is connected with

S
ET
the open sea by a narrow channel.
C
FA
(c) Tidal bore occurs when a tide enters the narrow and
shallow estuary of a river.
(d) The tidal nature of the mouth of the river Hooghly is of
crucial importance to Kolkata as port.
ans : a

Gulf with wide fronts and narrow rears experience high

C
PS
tides.

U
F
O
S
ET
C
FA
The tides whose height is 20 percent more than normal
tide are called :

C
PS
[CAPF 2018]

U
F
O
(a) Spring tides

S
ET
(b) Neap tides
C
(c) Apogean and perigean tides
FA
(d) Daily and Semi-diurnal tides
 ans : a

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one of the following is not a 'cold ocean current?

C
[UPSC CBI - 2024]

PS
U
(A) Benguela Current

F
O
(B) Canary Current

S
ET
(C) Falkland Current
C
(D) Kuroshio Current
FA
 ans : d

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which of the following statement is true?

[UPPSC 2023]

C
PS
U
(a) Ocean salinity is maximum at the Tropic of Cancer and

F
O
Capricorn

S
ET
(b) Tide comes on the earth every day after exactly 12
hours 30 minutes. C
FA
(c) Benguela current is a cold current of the pacific ocean
(d) If sun, earth and moon are in straight line then this
situation is the situation of small tide
 ans : a

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one of the following do not influence the ocean
currents?

C
PS
[CDS II 2022]

U
F
O
(a) Heating by solar energy

S
ET
(b) Wind
C
(c) Gravitational pull by Sun and Moon
FA
(d) Coriolis force
 ans : c

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one of the following is not correct?

C
[CAPF 2022]

PS
U
F
(a) The Gulf Stream is a warm ocean current.

O
S
(b) The North Atlantic Drift is a warm ocean current.

ET
(c) The Labrador Current is a cold ocean current.
C
FA
(d) The California Current is a warm ocean current.
 ans : d

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which of the following ocean currents does not flow in
North Atlantic Ocean ?

C
PS
[UKPSC Pre 2021]

U
F
O
(a) Gulf stream

S
ET
(b) Banguela
C
(c) Norwegian FA
(d) Florida
 ans : b

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one of the following ocean currents is a cold
current?

C
PS
[NDA II 2019]

U
F
O
(a) South Atlantic Drift

S
ET
(b) Mozambique Current
C
(c) East Australian Current
FA
(d) Caribbean Current
ans : a

The correct answer is option 1 i.e., South Atlantic Drift.

C
PS
South Atlantic Drift is also known as the Atlantic Drift or Westerlies Drift, and it is a

U
cold current which is an eastward deflection of Brazil Current.

F
O
S
Mozambique Current is a relatively warm surface current of the western Indian

ET
Ocean.

C
FA
East Australian Current is a warm ocean current in the South Western boundary of
Australia.

Caribbean Current is a warm ocean current that flows northwestward through the
Caribbean from the east coast of South America, into the Gulf of Mexico.
Which of the following ocean currents is associated with
Indian Ocean ?

C
PS
[UPPSC 2020]

U
F
O
(a) Florida current

S
ET
(b) Canary current
(c) Agulhas current C
FA
(d) Kurile current
 ans : c

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one of the following Oceanic currents is not
associated with the Pacific Ocean ?

C
PS
[UKPCS 2016]

U
F
O
(a) Canaries

S
ET
(b) Kuroshio
(c) California C
FA
(d) Humboldt
 ans : a

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which of the following currents is associated with the
Indian Ocean ?

C
PS
[UP PCS 2021]

U
F
O
(a) Florida current

S
ET
(b) Canary current
C
(c) Agulhas currentFA
(d) Kurile Current
 ans : c

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which of the following is not correctly matched ?

[OPSC 2021]

C
PS
U
(a) Benguela Current - South Atlantic

F
O
(b) Irminger Current - North Pacific

S
ET
(c) Peru Current - South Pacific
C
(d) Mozambique Current - Indian Ocean
FA
 ans : b

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
The Gulf Stream is a poleward flowing current in the Atlantic Ocean.
Which one of the following statements with regard to this is not correct?

C
(CDS 1 2017)

PS
U
a) It is similar to the kuroshio current in the North Pacific Ocean

F
O
b) It transports warm, tropical water towards the polar region

S
c) This current is a major factor in weather along the east coast of

ET
USA
C
FA
d) The warm water of the Gulf Stream sustains the coral reefs of the
West Pacific coast
 ans : d

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one of the following is a cold ocean current?

(CDS 1 2021)

C
PS
U
a) Brazilian current

F
O
b) Gulf stream

S
ET
c) North Equatorial current
d) California currentC
FA
 ans : d

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one of the following about sargasso sea is not
correct?

C
PS
(CDS 1 2019)

U
F
O
a) It is characterized with anticyclonic circulation of ocean

S
ET
currents
C
b) It records the highest salinity in Atlantic Ocean
FA
c) It is located west of Gulf Stream and east of Canary
current
d) It confined in gyre of calm and motionless water
 ans: c

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one among the following is a cold current in the
Atlantic ocean?

C
PS
(CAPF 2012)

U
F
O
a) Gulf Stream

S
ET
b) Benguela current
c) Peru current C
FA
d) Brazil current
 ans : b

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one among the following ocean currents mixes with
labrador current?

C
PS
(CAPF 2013)

U
F
O
a) Canaries current

S
ET
b) Benguela current
c) Florida current C
FA
d) California current
 ans : c

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
The Saragasso Sea is a vast patch of Atlantic Ocean characterized by an
abundance of floating brown seaweed called 'Sargassum'. This is formed due to
the deposit of marine plants and refuse carried by the:

C
1. North Atlantic current

PS
1. Canary current

U
3. North Atlantic Equatorial current

F
O
Select from the codes below:

S
ET
(CAPF 2014)
C
FA
(A) 1 only
(B) 2 and 3
(C) 1 and 3
(D) 1,2 and 3
 ans : d

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
The Kuroshio is a North flowing Ocean current on the West side of the North
Pacific Ocean. Which one among the following statements regarding this is NOT
correct?

C
PS
(CAPF 2014)

U
F
O
(A) It is similar to the, Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic Ocean

S
(B) It transports warm tropical water Northward towards the Polar region

ET
(C) The warm water of the Kuroshio current sustains the coral reefs of Japan

C
(D) It begins off the coast of Japan and flows Northward
FA
 ans : d

C
PS
U
The Kuroshio originates from the Pacific North Equatorial Current, which splits in

F
O
two at the east coast of Luzon, Philippines, to form the southward-flowing

S
Mindanao Current and the more significant northward-flowing Kuroshio Current.

ET
Hence, option 4 is incorrect.

C
FA
Which of the following are the warm ocean currents ?

[CDS 2020]

C
PS
U
(a) Kuroshio and California Current

F
O
(b) North Atlantic drift and Brazil Current

S
ET
(c) Canaries and Benguela Current
C
(d) West wind drift and Faulkland Current
FA
 ANS ; B

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Which one of the following is not a Current of Pacific
Ocean ?

C
PS
[NDA 2020]

U
F
O
A) Oyashio Current

S
ET
B) Alaska Current
C
C) Agulhas Current FA
D) California Current
 ANS : C

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
The most important fishing grounds of the world are found
in the regions where

C
PS
[CSE 2013]

U
F
O
(a) warm and cold atmospheric currents meet

S
ET
(b) rivers drain out large amounts of freshwater into the
sea C
FA
(c) warm and cold oceanic currents meet
(d) continental shelf is undulating
 ANS : C

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
Consider the following factors:

[CSE 2012]

C
1. Rotation of the Earth

PS
2. Air pressure and wind

U
3. Density of ocean water

F
4. Revolution of the Earth

O
S
ET
Which of the above factors influence the ocean currents?

C
(a) 1 and 2 only FA
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 1 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4
 ANS : B

FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C
FA
C
ET
S
O
F
U
PS
C