Question 29 from UPSC CSE 2014 - Geography

Question

The seasonal reversal of winds is the typical characteristic of

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: C. Monsoon climate

Strategy: Identify the key phrase 'seasonal reversal of winds' as the defining characteristic of a monsoon climate. Eliminate equatorial and Mediterranean climates based on their lack of this wind pattern. This confirms the monsoon climate as the correct answer.

Key Info: Monsoon climate is characterized by a significant seasonal reversal of prevailing winds, primarily due to differential heating of land and sea. In summer, moist oceanic winds bring heavy rainfall, while in winter, dry continental winds dominate. This pattern is prominent in South Asia (Indian subcontinent), Southeast Asia, and some African and northern Australian regions.

Equatorial climate, exemplified by locations along the Equator (e.g., Amazon Basin, Congo), features consistently high temperatures and precipitation throughout the year with no seasonal wind reversal, owing to the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone's influence.

Mediterranean climate, typical of countries around the Mediterranean Sea as well as California and parts of Chile and Australia, features wet winters and dry summers, but does not exhibit seasonal reversal of winds. Precipitation patterns are linked to shifting pressure belts, not dramatic wind changes.

The seasonal reversal of winds is a unique signature of the monsoon climate system and is not seen in equatorial or Mediterranean regions.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: Equatorial climate

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: Mediterranean climate

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: All of the above climates