Indian Monsoon
Indian Monsoon
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quiz Questions
Q1
Which of the following thermal theories explains the origin of the Indian Monsoon as a large-scale seasonal reversal of land and sea breezes?
Dynamic Theory of Flohn
Halley's Classical Thermal Theory
Jet Stream Theory
El Nino Southern Oscillation Theory
Explanation
Sir Edmund Halley's Classical Thermal Theory (1686) posits that the monsoon is caused by the differential heating and cooling of the massive Asian landmass and the surrounding Indian Ocean.
Q2
During the summer monsoon season, the shift of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) from the equator over India places it approximately over which geographic feature?
The Peninsular Plateau
The Ganga Plains
The Thar Desert
The Himalayan Peaks
Explanation
In summer, the ITCZ shifts northward and lies roughly parallel to the Ganga plains between 20°N and 25°N latitudes, often called the Monsoon Trough.
Q3
Why does the Coromandel Coast of Tamil Nadu remain largely dry during the Southwest Monsoon season (June to September)?
It lies parallel to the Arabian Sea branch and in the rain-shadow of Western Ghats
The region lacks any significant mountain barriers
The high temperature evaporates moisture before precipitation occurs
It is affected by cold ocean currents during summer months
Explanation
The Coromandel coast lies in the rain-shadow area of the Western Ghats for the Arabian Sea branch and runs parallel to the track of the Bay of Bengal branch.
Q4
Which phenomenon refers to the sudden change from the hot-dry summer season to the rainy season, characterized by fierce lightning and torrential downpours in early June?
Monsoon Break
Burst of Monsoon
Monsoon Retreat
El Nino Impact
Explanation
The sudden arrival of moisture-laden monsoon winds accompanied by violent thunder and lightning that ends the summer dry spell is termed the 'Burst of Monsoon'.
Q5
What is the primary driving mechanism behind the 'Retreating Monsoon' season in India during October and November?
The southward migration of the sun and weakening of northern low-pressure system
The sudden drop in sea surface temperatures in the Arabian Sea
The strengthening of western disturbances over the Himalayas
The arrival of high-velocity cold waves from Siberia
Explanation
The southward movement of the sun causes the low-pressure monsoon trough over northern plains to weaken, gradually replaced by a high-pressure system that drives winds from land to sea.
Q6
Which of the following describes the mechanism of a 'Monsoon Break' over the Indian subcontinent during the peak summer rainy season?
The shifting of the monsoon trough toward the Himalayan foothills
The absolute disappearance of the Somali Jet Stream
The development of an intense high-pressure cell over the Thar Desert
The sudden inversion of ocean currents in the Arabian Sea
Explanation
A monsoon break occurs when the monsoon trough shifts closer to the Himalayan foothills, causing rainfall to drop sharply over the northern plains while increasing along the mountains.
Q7
How does a positive phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) generally impact the summer southwest monsoon over India?
It delays the onset and reduces rainfall severely
It enhances convective activity and increases monsoon rainfall
It forces the monsoon to retreat prematurely in August
It has no measurable structural impact on Indian precipitation
Explanation
A positive IOD involves warmer sea surface temperatures in the western Indian Ocean, which enhances convective activity and leads to above-normal monsoon rainfall over India, often countering El Niño.
Q8
Which branch of the southwest monsoon is responsible for delivering heavy precipitation to the Arakan Yoma hills in Myanmar and subsequently northeastern India?
Arabian Sea Branch
Bay of Bengal Branch
South-East Equatorial Current
Somali Current Branch
Explanation
The Bay of Bengal branch strikes the coast of Myanmar and parts of southeast Bangladesh, where it is deflected by the Arakan Yoma mountains towards northeast India and the Ganga plains.
Q9
The intense low-pressure cell that develops over northwest India during summer draws winds across the equator from which high-pressure area?
The Siberian High
Subtropical High Pressure cell of the Southern Indian Ocean
The Tibetan Plateau High
The Mediterranean Low pressure zone
Explanation
The summer low-pressure system over India pulls the southeastern trade winds from the subtropical high-pressure cell located over the southern Indian Ocean (near Madagascar).
Q10
The 'Somali Jet Stream' (or Findlater Jet) plays a critical role in Indian meteorology by performing which function?
Pushing western disturbances away into Central Asia
Steering cross-equatorial monsoon winds toward the Indian coast
Creating severe cold wave conditions over north India
Suppressing the formation of tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal
Explanation
The Somali Jet Stream is a low-level cross-equatorial jet that steers moisture-laden winds across the western Indian Ocean directly toward the southwest coast of India.