UPSC Prelims 2001 · General Studies
Question 14: Geography
The temperature and rainfall of a meteorological station are given below: J F M A M J J A S O N D Temperature (°C): 9.4 10.6 11.7 12.2 13.3 13.9 13.9 14.4 15.6 15.0 13.3 10.6 Rainfall (cm): 12.2 9.1 7.9 2.5 1.8 0.3 – – 0.8 2.5 6.1 11.7 Average Temperature: 12.8 °C Average Rainfall: 54.9 cm per annum Identify the region having the above climatic pattern from amongst the following:
AnswerThe answer is (a).
Rainfall is concentrated in winter (12.2 cm in January, 11.7 cm in December) and almost nil from June to August, while temperatures stay mild (9.4 to 15.6 degrees C). Wet winters with dry summers are the signature of the Mediterranean climate, caused by the shifting of the westerlies and the sub-tropical high-pressure belt. Monsoon regions have summer rain, steppes are continental, and north-west Europe has rain all year.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Right: wet winter and dry summer.
- (b) Monsoon regions get most of their rain in summer, the opposite pattern.
- (c) Steppes have hot summers and cold winters with little rain; here winters are mild and wet.
- (d) North-west Europe has rain in every month, not a dry summer.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2001, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.