Question 1

Question 6What causes the differential heating of land and water?

Accepted Answer

The land absorbs more solar radiation and reflects a little while water reflects more solar radiation and absorbs a little. The differential heating of land and water is caused because of different rates at which the land and water are heated up. Land gets heated faster than the water. Therefore, during day land gets hotter than water. This results in wind blowing from sea to land during day. During night the land cools down faster and becomes cooler than the water bodies. This results in wind blowing from land towards the sea.

Question 2

Question 13Explain with the help of a diagram how the slope of the land affects the temperature.

Accepted Answer

The slope of the land affects the temperature in three ways:Presence of mountains acting as a barrier — For example, Himalayas prevent the monsoon winds from leaving India and also prevent the cold winds from China to enter India.Inversion of temperature — Steep slopes experience more changes in temperature than a gentle slope because of reversal of Normal Lapse Rate of temperature.Direction of slope of the land — Slopes facing south in the northern hemisphere are warmer than those facing north because the sun rays strike the south facing slopes at a steeper angle than they do at the north facing slopes which are also called Sheltered slopes.

Question 3

Question 14Why does the temperature of a place in the atmosphere decrease with height?

Accepted Answer

The temperature of a place in the atmosphere generally decreases with altitude because the gases absorb very little of the incoming solar radiation but the ground absorbs this radiation and then heats the tropospheric air by convection and radiation. Therefore, atmosphere is hotter near the surface and get cooler as the height increases.

Question 4

Question 15What causes equable climate?

Accepted Answer

Equable climate refers to a climate with low range of annual and diurnal temperature. It is experienced in areas situated close to sea. The sea has a moderating effect on the climate of coastal areas which causes the equable climate.

Question 5

Question 16State the reason for the differential heating of land and water?

Accepted Answer

The land absorbs more solar radiation and reflects a little while water reflects more solar radiation and absorbs a little. The differential heating of land and water is caused because of different rates at which the land and water are heated up. Land gets heated faster than the water. Therefore, during day land gets hotter than water. This results in wind blowing from sea to land during day. During night the land cools down faster and becomes cooler than the water bodies. This results in wind blowing from land towards the sea.

Question 6

Question 5The amount of insolation received on the earth surface is not uniform.

Accepted Answer

The amount of insolation received is maximum at the equator. It goes on reducing with higher latitudes and is minimum at the poles. This is because in low latitudes the Sun's rays are direct and have to travel a lesser extent through the atmosphere. Hence, the heat of these rays is more intense. But in higher latitudes, the Sun's rays are slanting and have to pass through a greater extent of atmosphere. Hence, these rays lose heat on the way and minimum insolation occurs at the poles.

Question 7

Question 1(c)Give a reason for each of the following:(i) North India has a greater range of temperature than South India.(ii) The temperature of Delhi is less than that of Chennai in December.(iii) Desert areas experience a high day temperature and a much lower night temperature.

Accepted Answer

(i) North India lies away from the water bodies and experiences continental type of climate whereas South India being near the water bodies experiences maritime climate. Also, North India comes in temperate zone as it lies towards the north of Tropic of Cancer whereas South India falls in Torrid Zone towards the south of Tropic of Cancer. Due to these reasons, North India has a greater range of temperature than South India.(ii) The temperature of Delhi is less than that of Chennai in December because Delhi lies beyond the Tropic of Cancer, in the Temperate zone. So in December, it receives slanting rays of the sun. But Chennai is located in Torrid zone and hence, it receives vertical rays of the sun throughout the year. Therefore, the temperature of Delhi is lesser during the December.(iii) Desert areas experience a high day temperature and a much lower night temperature because desert areas are covered with sand. The physical property of the sand is to get heated up quickly and cool down abruptly. So, the day temperature is very high and the night temperature is very low.

Question 8

Question 1(d)Draw a well labelled diagram to show the Heat Budget of the Earth.

Accepted Answer

Below labelled diagram shows the Heat Budget of the Earth:

Question 9

Question 2(c)Give a reason for each of the following:(i) Distance from the sea affects the temperature of a place.(ii) Land is heated and cooled faster than the sea.(iii) The ports of the western coast of Europe remain ice-free during winter.

Accepted Answer

(i) Distance from the sea affects the temperature of a place as the sea breeze blowing from the sea towards the land cools the coastal regions during the day. At night, the land breeze makes the sea cooler. This interchange of breeze maintains the heat balance. Hence, the areas close to the sea have a lower daily and annual ranges of temperatures and enjoy a moderate climate than the areas lying in the interior.(ii) Land is heated and cooled faster than the sea because water is mobile and the warm water mixes easily with the cold water and is neither heated nor cooled quickly. On the other hand, the Sun's rays heat a piece of land more rapidly because unlike water, the heat obtained by the area remains confined to that area and does not mix with other areas of land.(iii) The ports of the western coast of Europe remain ice-free during winter due to the warm effect of the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift.

Question 10

Question 2(d)Draw a well labelled diagram showing that the vertical rays are hotter than slanting rays.

Accepted Answer

Below labelled diagram shows that the vertical rays are hotter than slanting rays:

Question 11

Question 3(a)How does the distance from the sea affect the distribution of temperature?

Accepted Answer

Distance from the sea affects the temperature of a place as the sea breeze blowing from the sea towards the land cools the coastal regions during the day. At night, the land breeze makes the sea cooler. This interchange of breeze maintains the heat balance. Hence, the areas close to the sea have a lower daily and annual ranges of temperatures and enjoy a moderate climate than the areas lying in the interior.

Question 12

Question 3(b)How would the breezes that blow during the day and those that blow during the night affect the temperature of a place situated in the coastal region?

Accepted Answer

During the day the sea breeze blowing towards the land from the sea keeps the coastal region cool and during the night the land breeze blowing from the land towards the sea makes the sea cooler.This interchange of breeze maintains the heat balance. Hence, the areas close to the sea have a lower daily and annual ranges of temperatures and enjoy a moderate climate than the areas lying in the interior.

Question 13

Question 3(c)Give a reason for each of the following:(i) Higher the latitude, lower is the temperature.(ii) The vertical rays of the Sun give more insolation than the slanting rays.(iii) A desert region has a high range of temperature than a forest region.

Accepted Answer

(i) At higher latitudes, the rays of the Sun fall in an oblique way. Oblique rays not only travel a longer distance, but also heat a larger area. Thus, they have less heating power. Hence, with higher latitudes, the temperature goes on decreasing.(ii) The vertical rays of the Sun give more insolation than the slanting rays because vertical rays travel a shorter distance and heat up a smaller surface area leading to higher temperatures whereas slanting rays not only travel a longer distance, but also heat a larger area. Thus, they have less heating power.(iii) Hot deserts have no cloud cover, which allows high insolation during the day and rapid loss of heat due to terrestrial radiation at night resulting in high range of temperature. On the other hand, forests absorb 90% insolation and the solar energy absorbed by plants is used in the process of transpiration resulting in low range of temperature.

Question 14

Question 3(d)Draw a well labelled diagram to show the land and sea breeze.

Accepted Answer

Below labelled diagram shows the land and sea breeze:

Question 15

Question 1Solar radiation is the only primary source of light and heat on the earth. But only 51% of solar energy reaches the earth. What would happen if the entire solar energy reaches the earth? Give reasons to support your answer.

Accepted Answer

If the entire solar energy were to reach the Earth instead of just 51%, there would be several significant consequences. Here are some reasons to support this answer:Increased Temperature — The Earth's surface would experience a significant increase in temperature. The additional solar energy would lead to a substantial rise in average global temperatures, resulting in hotter climates worldwide. This increase in temperature could have far-reaching effects on ecosystems, weather patterns, and human habitats.Ecosystem Disruption — The increased solar energy would disrupt ecosystems and ecological balances. Many species have evolved to adapt to the existing amount of solar radiation. A sudden influx of additional energy could lead to shifts in vegetation patterns, changes in animal behavior and migration patterns, and the disruption of delicate ecological relationships.Water Cycle Changes — The increased solar energy would accelerate the water cycle. Higher temperatures would lead to increased evaporation rates, which would result in more moisture in the atmosphere. This, in turn, could intensify precipitation, leading to more frequent and intense rainfall, storms, and even extreme weather events like hurricanes.Impact on Human Health — The amplified solar radiation could have adverse effects on human health. Increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation could lead to a higher incidence of skin cancer, cataracts, and other UV-related health issues. It would necessitate enhanced sun protection measures and a heightened risk awareness.Energy Overload — The Earth's energy systems would face challenges in handling the excess solar energy. Our current energy infrastructure is designed to accommodate the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth. If the energy input were to increase drastically, it could strain power grids, transmission lines, and other energy-related infrastructure, requiring significant upgrades and modifications.Climate Instability — The sudden influx of solar energy would disrupt the delicate balance of Earth's climate system. It could potentially trigger feedback loops that amplify the warming effect, leading to a runaway greenhouse effect. This could result in further temperature increases, exacerbating climate change and its associated consequences.

Question 16

Question 2Do you think Greenhouse Gases affect earth's heat budget? Give examples to support your answer.

Accepted Answer

Yes, Greenhouse Gases affect the Earth's heat budget as can be understood by the following examples:Greenhouse Effect — Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), trap heat from the sun, preventing it from escaping back into space.Increased Temperatures — The presence of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere leads to an increase in average global temperatures, contributing to global warming.Climate Change — The buildup of greenhouse gases alters the balance of the Earth's heat budget, resulting in changes in climate patterns, including temperature shifts and extreme weather events.Human Activities — Human activities, like burning fossil fuels and deforestation, release large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, intensifying the greenhouse effect and impacting the Earth's heat budget.

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