[Solution] – Wed Geo and Environment Quiz #3

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[Solutions]

Q.1) Which of the following places in India are not a site for conservation under Ramsar Convention?
a)Harike Wetland
b)Keoladeo National Park
c)Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary
d)Annamalai Wildlife sanctuary

Ans- [D]
Explanation–
Wetlands are areas where water is the primary factor controlling the environment and the associated plant and animal life. They occur where the water table is at or near the surface of the land, or where the land is covered by water. They are now considered to be distinct ecosystems with specific ecological characteristics, functions and values.

Ramsar Convention on Wetlands which was signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 define wetlands as: “areas of marsh, fen, peatland or water, whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which at low tide does not exceed six metres”.

List of Ramsar sites in India.

S. no.	Ramsar sites	States.
1	Asthamudi Wetland	Kerala
2	Bhitarkanika Mangroves	Orissa
3	Bhoj Wetlands	Madhya Pradesh
4	Chandertal Wetland	Himachal Pradesh
5	Chilka Lake	Orissa
6	Deepor Beel	Assam
7	East Calcutta Wetlands	West Bengal
8	Harike Lake	Punjab
9	Hokera Wetland	Jammu and Kashmir
10	Kanjli Lake	Punjab
11	Keoladeo Ghana NP	Rajasthan
12	Kolleru Lake	Andhra Pradesh
13	Loktak Lake	Manipur
14	Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary	Gujarat
15	Point Calimere	Tamil Nadu
16	Pong Dam Lake	Himachal Pradesh
17	Renuka Wetland	Himachal Pradesh
18	Ropar Lake	Punjab
19	Rudrasagar Lake	Tripura
20	Sambhar Lake	Rajasthan
21	Sasthamkotta Lake	Kerala
22	Surinsar-Mansar Lakes	Jammu and Kashmir
23	Tsomoriri Lake	Jammu and Kashmir
24	Vembanad Kol Wetland	Kerala
25	Upper Ganga River (Brijghat to Narora Stretch)	Uttar Pradesh
26	Wular Lake	Jammu & Kashmir

Clearly Annamalai wildlife sanctuary is not a wetland.

Q.2) Coral bleaching is the loss of algae causing the coral to turn white. What causes coral bleaching?

• Climate change which has drastically raised the temperature of ocean water has caused the corals to bleach

• Excess greenhouse gas especially CO2 absorbed by seawater causing ocean acidification dissolved the algae in the coral causing bleaching

 

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans- [a]

Explanation– Water temperatures above than normal often results in coral bleaching. When water is too warm, corals expels the algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues causing them to turn completely white. When a coral bleaches, it is not dead. Corals can survive a bleaching event, they are just under huge stress.

This image very well explains it.

 

Ocean acidification slows down the growth of coral. Ocean absorbs one-third of the atmosphere’s excess carbon dioxide. This makes the ocean acidic which reacts with limestone skeleton of corals and dissolves them. In order for a coral reef to grow, it must produce limestone at a rate that is faster than the reef is being eroded. This slows down the growth.

Q.3) Four of the world’s biodiversity hotspots fall in India. Which of the following factors are considered for a place to become a biodiversity hotspot?
a) Number of total species
b) Number of unique species
c) Number of species at risk
d) All of the above

Ans- [D]

Explanation:
A biodiversity hotspot is a biogeographic region with significant levels of biodiversity that is under threat from humans. To qualify as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must meet two strict criteria: it must contain at least 0.5% or 1,500 species of vascular plants as endemics, and it has to have lost at least 70% of its primary vegetation.

Endemic species are species which are unique to a defined geographic location.

Q.4) The physical world map shows that there is a certain definite pattern to the location of the world’s deserts. Consider the following statements in this context-

1. Almost all deserts lie within 15 and 30 degrees north and south of the equator
2. Almost all deserts lie in the trade wind belt on the western parts of the continent

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans-[C]

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct. Majority of the world deserts are found along the Tropic of Cancer, between 15 and 30 degrees north of the Equator, or along the Tropic of Capricorn, between 15 and 30 degrees south of the Equator.

Statement 2 is also correct. These desert lie in the trade wind belt on the western parts of the continents. Here trade winds are off-shore and they are influenced by cold currents which produce a ‘desiccating effect’. This causes very less rain.

Q.5) Secondary circulation in the atmosphere consists of

1. Polar easterlies
2. Temperate cyclones
3. Mountain wind
4. Monsoon
5. Sea breeze

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a) 1 and 4 only
b) 2 and 4 only
c) 1, 2 and 4 only
d) 3 and 5 only

Ans- [B]

Explanation:
Atmospheric circulation is categorized as

1. Primary circulation – General, worldwide patterns, planetary winds eg westerlies winds
2. Secondary circulation- Regional circulation patterns (e.g. monsoons that are limited to South and South-east Asia)
3. Tertiary circulation – Local winds for ex- Loo, Sea breeze, land breeze, Mountain winds and Valley breezes are known as Tertitary circulation.

Polar easterlies is an example of global pattern or primary circulation.

Cyclone, anticyclones, monsoon are example of regional circulation pattern.

Hence ans is 2 and 4 only

Q.6) Three major hills of the Purvanchal are-

1. Naga hills
2. Patkai hills
3. Lushai hills

Arrange these hills in the right order from north to south using the codes given below:
a) 1, 3, 2
b) 2, 1, 3
c) 3, 1, 2
d) 2, 3, 1

Ans- [B]

Explanation- Mizo hills were formerly known as Lushai hills. See Atlas.

Q.7) Punjab and Haryana exploit almost 85% of groundwater for irrigation. The reason is –

• Low surface water availability

• Impact of green revolution

• Change in cropping pattern with an increased preference of rice

 

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans-[D]

Explanation- Statement 2 is obvious reason. Due to the green revolution and change in the cropping diversification in these states towards rice has unprecedentedly exploited groundwater resources.