Question : Explain the basis of Koppen's classification of climates. Also mention its merits and limitations.
(1994)
Answer : The earliest classification of climatic types was made by the Greek geographers. However, of the several schemes of climatic classification in modern times, the one devised by Wladimir Koppen,a German botanist and climatologist, still remains the most widely known descriptive system. It is a quantitative as well as empirical classification of climates.
Koppen proposed his first classification in 1900, using the world vegetation map of de Candolle, French plant physiologist. He revised his scheme in the ....
Question : Discuss the development of local winds, and their influence on local weather, giving three examples of the well-known local winds in the world.
(2007)
Answer : The weather of any place is always the result of interplay among many climatic and geographical factors. The local winds, though narrow in scope, bring considerable influence upon the local weather conditions. The major factors that play important role inthe development of local winds are temperature, rainfall, proximity to sea, relief, direction of winds, aspect of sun etc. The importance and role of these factors vary from place to place.
Development of Winds: Wind is the ....
Question : Compare the structure and associated weather condition of tropical cyclone with that of the temperate cyclone.
(2006)
Answer : The cyclones are closed air circulation around a low pressure centre having steep barometric gradient and an associated revolving storm, accompanied by cyclonic rain. In a cyclone winds circulate blowing inwards in anti-clockwise direction in the Northern Hemisphere and in clockwise direction in the Southern Hemisphere. They are mainly of two types based on their latitudinal location - Tropical cyclone and Temperate cyclone. A comparative study is made under the following heads:
I. Origin And Development:
Tropical ....
Question : Discuss the mechanism and significance of tri-cellular meridional circulation of atmosphere.
(2003)
Answer : Temperature differences produced by the varying amount of insolation received at the earth’s surface account for the density differences that drive the atmosphere in three-dimensional motion on global scale. The distribution pattern of temperature, pressure and the resultant winds depend basically on the distribution of insolation and the orbit of our planet around the sun. Besides the geography of earth and the constituent of atmosphere also determine the general circulation pattern.
The old concept of the ....
Question : Discuss the criteria which Thornthwaite adopted for his 1948 classification of world climates.
(2002)
Answer : Thornthwaite, an American climatologist, presented his first classification in 1931 in which, he considered natural vegetation of a region as the indicater of climate of that region. He accepted the concept that the amount of precipitation and temperature had paramount control on vegetation but he also pleaded for inclusion of evaporation as important factor. Hence, precipitation effectiveness and temperature effectiveness were the chosen criteria for demarcation of the climatic regions.
After making sizeable modification, Thornthwaite presented ....
Question : Give an account of the types and distribution of precipitation on the surface of the earth.
(2000)
Answer : Precipitation has been defined as water in liquid or solid form falling to the earth. According to Foster, precipitation is deposition of atmospheric moisture and is perhaps the most important phase of the hydrologic cycle. The first step in precipitation is condensation. The process of condensation involves a change from water vapour to liquid, while the process of precipitation involves the falling of water as rain, snow, hale or some other form.
Precipitation Types: The three ....
Question : Cs type of climate as per Koeppen's classification.
(1999)
Answer : Cs type of climate as per Koeppen’s classification:
Question : Discuss the nature and composition of earth’s atmosphere.
(1998)
Answer : The air, sea, and land constitute the major portions of four great material realms or spheres, that comprise the total global environment. Three of these realms are inorganic, (i) Atmosphere, (ii) Hydrosphere and (iii) Lithosphere. The fourth realm the biosphere, encompasses all living organisms of the earth. All these realms are in the figure given below:
Of the three inorganic spheres the atmosphere is ....
Question : Examine critically the drawbacks of Koppen's classification of climates. Explain how Thornthwaite attempted to overcome Kopper's limitations.
(1996)
Answer : C.W.Thornthwaite, an American climatologist, induced two climatic classifications. One in 1931 and other in 1948. His most significant concept is that of “Potential evapo-tranpiration” on which he based his 1948 classification. This concept has been applied in practical studies of water balance to solve the problems of water-use. Let us explain some of the basic criteria used in his climatic classification.
Criteria:
