Indian Monsoon
Indian Monsoon
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quiz Questions
Q11
Which upper atmospheric wind system suddenly withdraws from the Indian plains south of the Himalayas to facilitate the onset of the summer monsoon?
Tropical Easterly Jet Stream
Subtropical Westerly Jet Stream
Polar Jet Stream
Somali Jet Stream
Explanation
The northward shift and withdrawal of the Subtropical Westerly Jet Stream from the south of the Himalayas is a prerequisite for the establishment of the summer monsoon over India.
Q12
During El Niño years, how is the Indian southwest monsoon typically affected?
It leads to unprecedented heavy flooding across India
It typically results in deficient rainfall and drought conditions
It forces an early monsoon onset in the first week of May
It eliminates the occurrence of the 'October Heat' phenomenon
Explanation
El Niño causes the accumulation of warm water in the eastern Pacific Ocean, weakening the convective pressure setup over the western Pacific and Indian Oceans, often resulting in deficient monsoon rainfall or drought in India.
Q13
The winter rain along the Coromandel coast of India is primarily brought by which of the following wind systems?
Southwest Monsoon Winds
Northeast Monsoon Winds
Western Disturbances
Southwesterly Jet Stream
Explanation
The Northeast Monsoon (or retreating monsoon) winds pick up moisture as they blow over the Bay of Bengal and strike the Coromandel coast, causing winter rainfall between October and December.
Q14
Which structural atmospheric feature over the Tibetan Plateau during summer acts as a critical thermal engine to strengthen the Indian monsoon?
Tibetan Upper Tropospheric Anticyclone
Subtropical High Pressure Ridge
Aleutian Low Pressure System
Siberian High Pressure Cell
Explanation
Intense insolation over the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau creates an intense thermal low-pressure zone at the surface and a strong anticyclone (high pressure) in the upper troposphere, driving the Tropical Easterly Jet.
Q15
The 'Tropical Easterly Jet Stream' (TEJ) establishes itself over India after the onset of summer and is directly associated with which phenomenon?
The intensification and support of the Southwest Monsoon
The generation of winter cold waves in Kashmir
The absolute suppression of pre-monsoon convective thunderstorms
The development of the dry 'Loo' winds over Punjab
Explanation
The TEJ is a seasonal upper-tropospheric wind system that helps maintain the monsoon trough over northern India and steers tropical depressions into the Bay of Bengal.
Q16
In which month does the Southwest Monsoon typically withdraw completely from the northwestern plains of India?
July
August
September
December
Explanation
The withdrawal of the Southwest Monsoon begins from the northwestern parts of India (like Rajasthan) in early September and is largely completed from the northern plains by October.
Q17
What is the collective name given to the pressure variations in the southern Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean that are coupled with El Niño, affecting the Indian Monsoon?
Madden-Julian Oscillation
Southern Oscillation
North Atlantic Oscillation
Walker Circulation Shift
Explanation
The Southern Oscillation (SO) refers to the seesaw pattern of atmospheric pressure between the eastern Pacific (Tahiti) and western Pacific/Indian Ocean (Darwin), coupled with El Niño as ENSO.
Q18
Which structural atmospheric line acts as the dividing axis for the two main branches of the Southwest Monsoon over central India?
The Tropic of Cancer
The Monsoon Trough Axis
The Subtropical Ridge
The Equatorial Inter-Convergence Line
Explanation
The Monsoon Trough serves as the low-pressure axis where the Arabian Sea branch and the Bay of Bengal branch converge over Central Northern India.
Q19
Which of the following local tracking index conditions denotes a 'Break' situation in the Indian summer monsoon rainfall pattern?
Heavy rainfall localized strictly on the central Indian Peninsula
Dry spell over the plains with heavy downpours along the Himalayan foothills
Disappearance of convective thunderstorms in Northeast India
Complete stagnation of trade winds below the equator line
Explanation
A monsoon break occurs when the pressure drops near the foothills of the Himalayas, shifting rains away from the central agricultural plains to the mountain tracks.
Q20
Which tracking factor serves as a major indicator to confirm the real-time onset date of the Southwest Monsoon over the mainland of India?
A sudden drop in water temperature across the Chilika Lake
Sustained rainfall over designated stations in Kerala accompanied by deep westerlies
The complete freezing of high-altitude passes in Sikkim
The development of a high pressure cell over the Sundarbans Delta
Explanation
The IMD uses a sustained increase in rainfall over defined stations in Kerala, along with westerly wind depth and Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) values, to declare monsoon onset.