Karnataka 1st PUC Geography Question Bank Chapter 5 Atmosphere Questions and Answers Solution, Notes by Expert Teacher Priya Verma. Karnataka Class 11 Geography Solution Chapter 5.
There are 2 Parts in Karnataka Class 11 Textbook. Here You will find Part A Fundamentals of Physical Geography’s Chapter 5 Atmosphere (Composition and Structure of Atmosphere, Temperature, Atmospheric Pressure, Winds, Rainfall, Weather and Climate).
Karnataka 1st PUC Geography Question Bank Chapter 5 – Atmosphere Solution
- State – Karnataka.
- Class – 1st PUC / Class 11
- Subject – Geography.
- Topic – Solution / Notes.
- Chapter – 5
- Chapter Name – Atmosphere.
- Subpart – Composition and Structure of Atmosphere, Temperature, Atmospheric Pressure, Winds, Rainfall, Weather and Climate.
(I) Answer the following in a word or a sentence each.
(1) Define Atmosphere.
Answer :
Atmosphere is a thin layer of gas and dust particles which is found all over the earth and makes the life possible on earth.
(2) What is the percentage of Nitrogen in the Atmosphere?
Answer :
Percentage of nitrogen in atmosphere is 78%.
(3) Why is Carbon dioxide important in the Atmosphere?
Answer :
Carbon di oxide is important in atmosphere because it is necessary for plants to complete photosynthesis.
(4) Which layer of Atmosphere is called ‘Weather manufacturer?
Answer :
Troposphere is the weather manufacturer.
(5) In which layer do you find Aurora?
Answer :
Aurora is found in the Thermosphere.
(6) What is Stratopause?
Answer :
Stratopause is the boundary between stratosphere and mesosphere.
(7) Which is the coldest layer in the Atmosphere?
Answer :
Coldest layer in the atmosphere is mesosphere.
(8) Define Insolation.
Answer :
Insolation is amount of radiation received by the earth from the sun. It is also known as incoming solar radiation.
(9) What is Convection?
Answer :
Convection is the transmission of heat in the liquid or gaseous medium through the movement of the particles itself.
(10) Mention the average atmospheric pressure of the Earth.
Answer :
Average atmospheric pressure of earth is 1013.25mb.
(11) How many pressure belts are there in the globe?
Answer :
There are 7 pressure belts in atmosphere.
(12) Define Doldrms.
Answer :
Doldrums is the equatorial low-pressure belt which is found in 0 to 5 degrees north and south of the equator.
(13) Where do we find ‘Horse latitudes’?
Answer :
Horse latitude is the sub-tropical high-pressure belt found between 23 to 35 degrees North and the south of the equator. Here trade winds and anti-trade winds originate.
(14) Name the instrument used to measure speed of the Wind.
Answer :
Anemometer Measures the speed of wind.
(15) What is ITCZ?
Answer :
ITCZ is the abbreviation used for Inter Tropical Convergence Zone. It is the region where trade winds converge.
(16) Where do we see ‘Roaring Forties’?
Answer :
Roaring forties are westerlies of southern hemisphere which are found around 40-degree south latitude.
(17) Why are Tropical cyclones more dangerous?
Answer :
Tropical cyclones are more dangerous because they are associated with the intensive pressure gradient created by the temperature variation. The high-pressure zone develops in water bodies and with the movement of wind it comes to the low-pressure land. They cause heavy rainfall with high velocity winds.
(18) What is Rain shadow region?
Answer :
Rain shadow region is the leeward side of the mountain on which the wind descends and its temperature increases resulting in dry air.
(19) Which instrument is used to measure the amount of Rainfall?
Answer :
Rain Gauge Measures the amount of rainfall.
(20. Mention any two factors that determine the climate of a place.
Answer :
Factors determining the climate of the place are Latitude, distance from the sea, altitude or height from the mean sea level, prevailing winds, directions of mountains, ocean currents and nature of land cover.
(II) Answer the following in two or three sentences each.
(1) Mention any two components of Atmosphere.
Answer :
Atmosphere is the thin layer of vapour, gases and dust surrounding the earth which makes the life possible on earth. Earth’s atmosphere consists of a mixture of gases like oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide etc, dust particles and water vapours.
(2) Name any four important gases present in the atmosphere.
Answer :
Some important gases present in the atmosphere are nitrogen, oxygen, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, neon etc.
(3) Why is Troposphere called ‘Region of Mixing?
Answer :
is the lowest layer of atmosphere, and it contains all the necessary gases which make life possible on Troposphere earth. It is also known as region of mixing because it contains a blend of gases like nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon etc.
(4) What is the role of Ionosphere in the Atmosphere?
Answer :
Ionosphere is also known as thermosphere, and it extends from 80 km to 600 km from the surface of the earth. It contains electrically charged particles called ions which reflect the radio waves transmitted from the earth. This makes radar and communications possible on the earth.
(5) Mention the features of Inversion of Temperature.
Answer :
Inversion of temperature is the phenomenon, which is visible during winter season, less cloudiness, slow movement of winds, clear sky in the mountain valley. In this process temperature increases with the height.
(6) Why do Pressure belts shift?
Answer :
Pressure belts shift with the shift of respective positions of sun. When the sun moves northwards pressure belts move in the northern hemisphere and when the sun shifts in the southern direction during the months of June to December, then pressure belts shift in the southern hemisphere.
(7) Name the two important Trade winds.
Answer :
Some important trade winds are roaring forties, furious fifties, shrieking sixties etc.
(8) How is Sea breeze formed?
Answer :
The winds blow from the sea towards the land during the daytime and during night it blows from land to the sea. This phenomenon is named as land and sea breeze.
(9) Mention the features of a Cyclone.
Answer :
Cyclones are the high-speed spiralling winds which have low pressure area at the centre and high-pressure area surrounding it. In northern hemisphere the cyclonic winds move in anti-clockwise direction and in the southern hemisphere they move in clockwise direction.
(10) How is Mountain rainfall caused?
Answer :
Mountain rainfall is also known as orographic rainfall. It happens when the moisture carrying winds rises with height and it expands and loses temperature. This results in condensation and rainfall.
(III) Answer the following.
(1) Explain the structure of the Atmosphere.
Answer :
Atmosphere is the thin layer of vapour, gases and dust surrounding the earth which makes the life possible on earth. There are various elements of earth like temperature, pressure, wind, humidity etc. Gravity is the binding force of the atmosphere to the earth. It extends upto 1600 km from the surface of the earth. It is a multi-layered structure, but it majorly is constructed by the 5 layers.
- Troposphere– It is the bottommost layer of the earth’s atmosphere. It is also known as the region of mixing or the region of turbulence. It extends to the height of 8 km at poles and 18 km from the equator. The special features of this layer is temperature, pressure, winds, clouds, thunder, lightning, rainbow etc.
- Stratosphere– It is the second layer from the surface of the earth, and it is found upto to the height of 50 km. No clouds, or turbulence is found in this layer because of which it is ideal for the flying of jets and aircrafts. Ozone layer is also found in this layer.
- Mesosphere– It is the coldest layer of the atmosphere, and it extends upto 80 km from the surface of the earth.
- Thermosphere– It is also known as ionosphere, and it contains electrically charged particles called as ions. It extends from 80 km to 600 km. This layer absorbs the x-rays and the short-wave radiations from the sun. It also makes the communication and radar signalling possible because it reflects the radio waves.
- Exosphere– It is the outermost layer of the atmosphere. It extends upto 1000 km from the surface of the earth.
(2) Briefly explain the factors affecting the distribution of temperature.
Answer :
Temperature is not evenly distributed all around the earth. On earth temperature distribution is usually seen in horizontal and vertical manner. Horizontally temperature increases with the increase in latitude. Vertically the distribution of temperature is dependent on various factors like latitude, altitude, distance from the sea, ocean currents, winds, clouds, rainfall, the slope of the land, vegetation etc.
- Latitude– places which are close to equator are warmer than place away from it because the sun’s rays directly falls above the areas near to the equator and with the increasing latitudes these sun’s waves become slanted. The slanted rays of the sun passes through more layers of the atmosphere during which they lose their heat.
- Altitude– Air is warmer in the places near to the earth’s surface and with the increasing hight the temperature decreases.
- Distancefrom the sea– Because of differential heating of the land and water the areas closer to the water body are colder than the inland areas.
- Ocean currents– Warm ocean currents increase the temperature of the coastal areas and the cold ocean currents decrease the temperature of the surrounding areas.
- Winds– Winds blowing in the lower latitudes are warm and it makes the surrounding areas warm. Whereas the winds blowing in the higher latitudes are colder and make the area cold.
- Clouds– Clouds reduce the amount of insolation during the day and decrease temperature. During night clouds are opaque to the terrestrial radiations and it does not allow the heat to escape making the area warmer.
(3) Describe the major pressure belts of the world with a neat diagram.
Answer :
There are seven pressure belts found in the atmosphere. They are one equatorial low-pressure belt, 2 sub-tropical high pressure belts, 2 sub- polar low pressure belts and 2 polar high pressure belts.
- Equatorial low pressure belts– It extends from 0 to 5 degrees north and south of the equator. It receives the sun’s rays directly nearly throughout the year. It is a hot region because of which air expands and rise. It is also known as doldrums.
- Sub-tropical high pressure belts– It is found between 25 to 35 degrees north and south of equator. This is also known as horse latitudes. Here the warm air from the equator cools down and descends.
- Sub-polar low pressure belt– It is found between 60 to 70 degrees north and south of the equator. It is created because of the rotation of the earth. This region observes storminess during the winter season.
- Polar high pressure belt– It is found between 80 to 90 degrees in both the hemispheres. It is a region of low temperature where all the cold air sinks down.
(4) Explain the planetary winds with the help of diagram,
Answer :
Planetary winds are the permanent winds which blow regularly from high pressure region to low pressure region. They play an important role in climate change, desert formation, guide navigation routes etc. They are categorised into three types-
Tradewinds– They blow from sub tropical high pressure belts to equatorial low pressure belt. Theya re also known as tropical easterlies. They are of two types- North east trade winds and south east trade winds.
Antitradewinds– They blow from sub tropical high pressure belts to sub polar low pressure belts. They are also known as westerlies and their direction is opposite to trade winds.
Polarwinds– These are cold winds which blow from polar high pressure belt to sub polar low pressure belts. They are also known as polar easterlies.
(5) What is Rainfall? Explain the types of rainfall with neat diagrams.
Answer :
Rainfall is the natural condensation process in which gaseous water vapours in cloud convert into water droplets and fall on earth. It is categorized into three categories-
Convectional rainfall– During high temperature, air surrounding the earth atmosphere heats up and rises. This rising cools down the air and makes it more saturated as a result condensation happens which falls on earth as rainfall. It is found in equatorial region and in tropical regions during summer.
Orographic rainfall– It is also known as relief rainfall or mountain rainfall and is seen in the mountainous regions. When the moisture carrying winds is forced to ascend over the mountains. With the increase in height the temperature decreases leading to saturation of the air mass and rainfall.
Cyclonic rainfall– The rainfall which is associated with the cyclonic depression is known as cyclonic rainfall. It happens where warm and cold air meet.