Climatology: Previous Year Questions Geography Optional

Climatology is one of the important sections of Geography Optional for the UPSC Civil Services Mains Examination. Outlined below are the various questions asked in the UPSC Mains from Climatology. 

Complete Syllabus for Geography Optional for UPSC CSE

Click to See: Geomorphology Previous Year Questions (UPSC CSE Geography Optional)

Climatology Previous Year Questions (UPSC CSE Mains Geography Optional)

1. Compare the basis of the climatic classification of Koppen with that of Thornthwaite’s classification. (UPSC Mains 1986)
2. Discuss critically the characteristics of tropical cyclones and analyze the extent to which they differ from temperate cyclones. (UPSC Mains 1987)
3. Attempt a classification of air masses and give the characteristic features and associated weather conditions of each class. (UPSC Mains 1988)
4. Explain the origin, characteristics, and distribution of temperate cyclones. (UPSC Mains 1989)
5. Explain the basic criteria used in Thornthwaite’s 1948 classification of climates. (UPSC Mains 1990)
6. Write a short note: Hydrological cycle. (UPSC Mains 1991)
7. Explain the origin, distribution, and characteristics of tropical cyclones. (UPSC Mains 1991)
8. Discuss the origin, movements, and characteristics of air masses and explain their role in influencing world climates. (UPSC Mains 1992)
9. Explain the basis of Koppen’s classification of climates. Also, mention its merits and limitations. (UPSC Mains 1994)
10. Write a short note: Inversion of temperature. (UPSC Mains 1995)
11. Explain and illustrate the life cycle of a temperate cyclone and also describe the weather associated with it. (UPSC Mains 1995)
12. Examine critically the drawbacks of Koppen’s Classification of climates. Explain how Thornthwaite attempted to overcome Koppen’s limitations. (UPSC Mains 1996)
13. Define air masses. How do they originate? Classify them and state the characteristics of any one type. (UPSC Mains 1997)
14. Discuss the nature and composition of the earth’s atmosphere. (UPSC Mains 1998)
15. Write a short note: Cs type of climate, as per Koppen’s classification (UPSC Mains 1999)
16. Make a comparative study of the tropical and temperate cyclones. (UPSC Mains 1999)
17. Give an account of the types and distribution of precipitation on the surface of the earth. (UPSC Mains 2000)
18. Discuss the concept of air masses and present their classification. (UPSC Mains 2001)
19. Discuss the criteria which Thornthwaite adopted for his 1948 classification of the World climate. (UPSC Mains 2002) 
20. Discuss the mechanism and significance of the tricellular meridional circulation of the atmosphere. (UPSC Mains 2003)
21. How would the impact of global warming differ from one part of the earth to another? (UPSC Mains 2004)
22. Write a short note on Potential evapotranspiration. (UPSC Mains 2004)
23. Discuss the main features of the climatic classification system evolved by Koppen. Also, point out its Anomalies. (UPSC Mains 2005)
24. Compare the structure and associated weather conditions of tropical cyclones with that of temperate cyclones. (UPSC Mains 2006)
25. Discuss the development of local winds, and their influence on local weather, giving three examples of the well-known local winds in the world. (UPSC Mains 2007)
26. Discuss the mechanism and origin of Monsoon winds & explain the role of EI Nino on Monsoon circulation. (UPSC Mains 2008)
27. Explain factors contributing to the Global Climate Change. (UPSC Mains 2009)
28. Discuss the consequences of Climate Change on agriculture and food security, and the Coastal Zones of the world. (UPSC Mains 2009)
29. How does Climate Change affect urban areas? (UPSC Mains 2009)
30. Write a short note on tropical atmospheric instability. (UPSC Mains 2009)
31. Write a short note on the Inversion of temperature. (UPSC Mains 2010)
32. What is ‘polar front’? How do cyclones develop along this front? Describe the weather conditions associated with it. (UPSC Mains 2010)
33. Examine the various kinds of atmospheric humidity and their associated forms. (UPSC Mains 2010)
34. Write short notes on Rossby waves and Jet Stream. (UPSC Mains 2011)
35. Give an account of the global distribution of precipitation. (UPSC Mains 2011)
36. “Contemporary global climate change is an anthropogenic phenomenon.” Discuss. (UPSC Mains 2011)
37. Compare and contrast tropical cyclones and temperate cyclones. (UPSC Mains 2012)
38. Classify air masses and explain how ‘cP’ air masses affect global climate. (UPSC Mains 2012)
39. Answer the following: Impact of Cryosphere on global climate. (UPSC Mains 2012)
40. Write a short note: Differentiate Storm Surges and Seiches. (UPSC Mains 2013)
41. With suitable examples, bring out the impact of local winds on the climate of an area. (UPSC Mains 2013)
42. Discuss Dew point and various forms of condensation. (UPSC Mains 2013)
43. Bring out the relationship between climate and vegetation in the Mountain Biome. (UPSC Mains 2013)
44. Discuss the salient features of ‘sirocco’ and mistral’. (UPSC Mains 2014)
45. Describe the origin and development of thunderstorms with examples. (UPSC Mains 2014)
46. Discuss the nature and origin of the Indian monsoon and recent techniques for its prediction. (UPSC Mains 2014)
47. Discuss how frontogenesis contributes to weather instability. (UPSC Mains 2015)
48. What is Potential Evapotranspiration? Explain how it is used in assessing the water balance in an area. (UPSC Mains 2015)
49. Discuss the basis of Koppen’s climatic classification of the ‘Cs’ type of climate. (UPSC Mains 2015)
50. Explain the meridional circulation of the atmosphere and its importance in world climate. (UPSC Mains 2015)
51. The differential between insolation and temperature explains anomalous temperature. (UPSC Mains 2016)
52. Compare the origin and weather conditions associated with the tropical and temperate cyclones. (UPSC Mains 2016)
53. Discuss the significance of the World Climate Research Programme (WCEF) and its core projects in the understanding of climatic change. (UPSC Mains 2016)
54. Discuss the forces which govern the air movement on the Earth’s surface. (UPSC Mains 2017)
55. “Climate change is a reality.” Explain with suitable examples. (UPSC Mains 2017)
56. Explain the role of evaporation in the hydrologic cycle. (UPSC Mains 2018)
57. Critically examine the basis and scheme of climatic classification proposed by G.T.Trewartha. (2018)
58. Explain the origin, progress, and retreat of the Indian monsoon and discuss its impact on the Indian economy. (UPSC Mains 2018)
59. Explain the techniques to calculate potential evapotranspiration suggested by Thornthwaite. (UPSC Mains 2019)
60. Explain the nature of urban climates and their impact on global environmental change. (UPSC Mains 2019)
61. Discuss in detail the tri-cellular model of atmospheric circulation. (UPSC Mains 2019)