Theme T29 · Physical Geography & Hazards
Atmosphere, air masses, winds, inversion, deserts & auroras
6PYQs
6GS1
2013–20265 distinct years
2asked 2024–26
What UPSC asks
Questions ask about atmospheric processes: troposphere's role, air masses, temperature inversion, urban heat islands, location of hot deserts, local winds (Loo, Chinook, Foehn), and auroras.
Prepare these
- Atmospheric layers and why weather happens in the troposphere
- Air masses and fronts
- Temperature inversion and heat islands
- Trade winds and desert location on western margins
- Local winds and their effects
- Auroras: solar wind and magnetosphere
Answer writing
- Diagrams help; always add an Indian or world example
Directive words in these PYQs: Compare (1), Discuss (1), Explain (1), Bring out (1), Why (1).
Linked themes
Comes back later in
Later themes that take this one further.
On the map
Map module 3: Climate, monsoon & soilsMap module 4: World physical frameworkPractise in the sketch lab: GS1 2013
Syllabus lines covered
- GS1-L10 — Salient features of world's physical geography.
- GS1-L12 — Important Geophysical phenomena such as earthquakes, Tsunami, Volcanic activity, cyclone etc., geographical features and their location- changes in critical geographical features (including water-bodies and ice-caps) and in flora and fauna and the effects of such changes.
All 6 PYQs, newest first
- GS1202615 marks · 250 wordsGS1-GEO-02-M2026-S02
- GS1202415 marks · 250 wordsGS1-GEO-02-M2024-Q15
What are aurora australis and aurora borealis? How are these triggered?
- GS1202215 marks · 250 wordsGS1-GEO-02-M2022-Q17
Troposphere is a very significant atmosphere layer that determines weather processes. How?
- GS12016GS1-GEO-02-M2016-S01
Discuss the concept of air mass and explain its role in macro-climatic changes.
- GS12013GS1-GEO-02-M2013-S01
- GS12013GS1-GEO-02-M2013-S02