UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : Environment and Geography MCQs on coral reefs, volcanic ash, beaked whales and more (Week 139)

3. The reefs help prevent loss of life and property in the coastal region.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— The government will soon set up the National Coral Reef Research Institute (NCRRI) in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a senior official said. NCRRI, which will be set up at Rs 120 crore, will function as the nodal and monitoring agency for coral reef research across India. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— It will be an advanced coral reef research, conservation, and management centre,” said Sivaperuman, the officer-in-charge of the Zoological Survey of India’s Andaman & Nicobar regional centre.

— Coral reefs play a pivotal role as they provide natural coastal protection against storms, working as a cushion against waves. The reefs help prevent loss of life and properties in the coastal region. Hence, statements 1 and 3 are correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the tropical cyclones, consider the following statements:

1. These cyclones develop when thunderstorm activity starts building close to the centre of circulation.

2. They are characterised by destructive winds and torrential rainfall.

3. They are known as mid-latitude cyclones.

4. These cyclones always have one or more fronts.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— Cyclone Ditwah has been moving in the Indian Ocean region for almost a week now. It originated southeast of Sri Lanka on November 26 and moved slowly northwards along Sri Lanka’s eastern coastline, causing large-scale devastation.

— The Indian Ocean region is no stranger to tropical cyclones. Multiple cyclones are formed in the Indian Ocean every year, and many of them arrive on the Indian coastline, both from the Bay of Bengal side as well as the Arabian Sea side. Over the years, India has built an elaborate mechanism to deal with these cyclones and minimise their impact.

— A cyclone is a large-scale system of air that rotates around the centre of a low-pressure area. It is usually accompanied by violent storms and bad weather.

— According to the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), a cyclone is characterised by inward spiralling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

— Tropical cyclones are characterised by destructive winds, torrential rainfall and storm surges disrupt normal life with the accompanying phenomena of floods due to the exceptional level of rainfall and storm surge inundation into inland areas. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

Tropical cyclones are those which develop in the regions between the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer. These cyclones develop when “thunderstorm activity starts building close to the centre of circulation, and the strongest winds and rain are no longer in a band far from the centre”. The core of the storm turns warm, and the cyclone gets most of its energy from the “latent heat” released when water vapour that has evaporated from warm ocean waters condenses into liquid water. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

What are Extratropical cyclones?

— They are also known as mid-latitude cyclones which occur outside of the tropics. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— These cyclones always have one or more fronts — a weather system that is the boundary between two different types of air masses while tropical cyclones have no fronts. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Volcanic ash, consider the following statements:

1. It is particularly hazardous to aviation due to its abrasive nature.

2. It can damage vital aircraft components, such as engine turbine blades and clog sensors.

3. These ash clouds carry toxic gases that can severely affect the cabin air quality, causing breathing problems to flyers.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— A dormant Volcano named Hayli Gubbi erupted after several thousand years, sending volcanic ashes several kilometres into the atmosphere. This is the first time the volcano has erupted, leading to a thick cloud of ash being created in the atmosphere. The ash caused several flights in India to be cancelled, delayed, or rerouted, and the aviation regulator advised airlines to “strictly avoid” affected areas.

— Volcanic ash is particularly hazardous to aviation due to its abrasive nature, which can damage vital aircraft components such as engine turbine blades and clog sensors, potentially leading to engine stalling or flaming out of the engine. Additionally, for a jet engine to function in an optimal condition, it needs to have great air flow and fuel combustion, and volcanic ash can melt substances. So flights around regions across India were cancelled or delayed to avoid engine failure and risk of airflow disruption. Hence, statements 1 and 2 are correct.

— Another concern is that ash clouds carry toxic gases that can severely affect the cabin air quality, causing breathing problems to flyers. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

With reference to the beaked whales, consider the following statements:

1. They are the deepest-diving mammals on Earth.

2. They spend most of their lives on the surface of the oceans.

3. They are sensitive to military sonars, which are known to interfere with their food search.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) All three

(d) None

Explanation

— A team of scientists has spotted the rare ginkgo-toothed beaked whales for the first time in the wild along the coast of Baja California in Mexico. They used a modified crossbow to grab a tiny skin sample from one of the whales and confirm its nature.

— The ginkgo-toothed beaked whale (Mesoplodon ginkgodens) is one of 24 species of beaked whales, which are the second most diverse group of cetaceans after dolphins. As these whales have remained elusive, researchers know relatively little about them.

(Wikimedia Commons)

— The issue is that beaked whales are the deepest-diving mammals on Earth. They spend most of their lives in the oceans, only coming to the surface for air for a few minutes at a time, usually far away from coastlines. They are very shy and easily frightened when approached by a boat. Hence, statement 1 is correct and statement 2 is not correct.

— Researchers suggest that there is a need to gather more information about beaked whales, as they are sensitive to military sonars, which are known to interfere with their search for food. Also, in some instances, the sonars force these whales to ascend too quickly, leading to injury and even death. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

With reference to the phases of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), consider the following pairs:

1. El Niño – Cold

2. La Niña – Warm

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) stated that weak La Niña conditions will prevail globally throughout the first quarter of 2026, which experts suggest may lead to a colder winter in several parts of India, particularly in the North.

— “There is a 55 per cent chance of a weak phase of La Niña impacting weather and climate patterns during the next three months,” WMO said.

— The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is one of the ocean-atmosphere phenomena that emerge over the equatorial Pacific Ocean and can influence global weather. It has three phases: warm (El Niño), cool (La Niña), and neutral (ENSO), and conditions alternate between the three once every 2 to 7 years. Hence, pairs 1 and 2 are not correctly matched.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 134)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 139)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 139)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 139)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 138)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 138)

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