Basics Of Geography

Question 3

What is the technical term for the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere (around June 21st)?

Answer 3

Summer Solstice.

Question 4

What is the tilt of Earth’s axis relative to the sun?

Answer 4

23.5 degrees.

Question 5

How does day length on the Summer Solstice vary with latitude?

Answer 5

The effect is greatest farther from the equator; 12 hours at the equator, slightly longer in tropics, significantly longer in temperate zones, 24 hours (Midnight Sun) within the Arctic Circle.

Question 6

What force causes the deflection of wind direction due to Earth’s rotation?

Answer 6

The Coriolis force.

Question 7

In which direction does the Coriolis force deflect winds in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

Answer 7

To the right in the Northern Hemisphere, and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 8

How does the Coriolis force vary with latitude?

Answer 8

It is directly proportional to the angle of latitude, being maximum at the poles and absent at the equator.

Question 9

Why are soils in tropical rainforests generally nutrient-poor?

Answer 9

Nutrients from rapid decomposition are quickly consumed by fast-growing plants, and leftover nutrients are leached away by abundant rainfall.

Question 10

What factors contribute to the rapid decomposition of organic matter in tropical rainforests?

Answer 10

High temperatures enhance microbial activity, and high moisture levels facilitate the enzymatic processes involved in decomposition.

Question 11

During which season is the temperature contrast between continents and oceans greater?

Answer 11

During winter.

Question 12

How does the specific heat of water compare to that of land?

Answer 12

Water’s specific heat is about 2.5 times higher, meaning it takes longer to heat up and cool down compared to land.

Question 13

Approximately how much more insolation (solar radiation) does the equator receive compared to the poles?

Answer 13

About 4 times as much.

Question 14

What percentage of insolation do infrared rays constitute?

Answer 14

Roughly 49-50%.

Question 15

Are infrared waves visible to the human eye?

Answer 15

No, their wavelengths are longer than those of visible light.

Question 16

When does the Southern Hemisphere experience its longest day (Summer Solstice)?

Answer 16

Around December 22nd.

Question 17

What is the largest reservoir of freshwater on Earth?

Answer 17

Glaciers and ice caps, holding about 69% of total freshwater.

Question 18

After glaciers and ice caps, where is the next largest proportion of freshwater found?

Answer 18

As groundwater, holding about 30% of total freshwater.

Question 19

Along which latitude does the sun appear directly overhead during the June Solstice?

Answer 19

The Tropic of Cancer (approximately 23.5° N latitude).

Question 20

What is Earth’s magnetosphere and what is its function?

Answer 20

It is the immense magnetic field surrounding Earth, shielding the planet from erosion of the atmosphere by solar wind, harmful particle radiation from CMEs, and cosmic rays.

Question 21

Is Earth’s magnetic field constant?

Answer 21

No, it is in continual flux, with its strength changing, and the magnetic poles gradually shifting and even flipping polarity over long periods (e.g., every 300,000 years or so).

Question 22

What was Earth’s early atmosphere primarily composed of?

Answer 22

Gases from volcanoes, such as ammonia, methane, hydrogen sulfide, and carbon dioxide; it lacked free oxygen.

Question 23

What organisms were responsible for introducing significant amounts of free oxygen into the atmosphere?

Answer 23

Photosynthetic microbes called cyanobacteria, which became abundant around 2.4 billion years ago.

Question 24

How can reduced or zero tillage practices help in water conservation in agriculture?

Answer 24

By reducing soil compaction, water runoff, and evaporation, preventing soil erosion, and allowing better utilization of residual moisture, thus potentially reducing irrigation needs.

Question 25

What effect does applying gypsum have on certain types of soil?

Answer 25

It improves drainage and water infiltration, especially in soils with high sodium or swelling clay content.

Question 26

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Answer 26

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Question 27

What causes the change of seasons on Earth?

Answer 27

The change in the position of the Earth around the Sun due to its revolution on a tilted axis.

Question 28

What causes the variations in the length of daytime and nighttime throughout the year?

Answer 28

The revolution of the Earth on its tilted axis.

Question 29

What occurs in the Northern Hemisphere around June 21st (Summer Solstice)?

Answer 29

It is tilted towards the sun, receives more direct sunlight (especially at the Tropic of Cancer), experiences its longest day and shortest night, and areas north of the Arctic Circle have continuous daylight.

Question 30

What occurs in the Southern Hemisphere around December 22nd (its Summer Solstice / Winter Solstice in N. Hemi)?

Answer 30

It is tilted towards the sun, receives more direct sunlight (at the Tropic of Capricorn), and experiences summer with longer days and shorter nights.

Question 31

What is an equinox, and when does it occur?

Answer 31

A time when the sun's direct rays fall on the equator, neither pole is tilted towards the sun, and the whole Earth experiences equal days and equal nights. Occurs around March 21st and September 23rd.

Question 32

How was the Pole Star (North Star) used in ancient times?

Answer 32

For navigation at night, as it indicates the direction North and remains in the same position in the sky.

Question 33

What is the difference in composition between asteroids and comets?

Answer 33

Asteroids are rocky minor planets, while comets are composed of ice, dust, and rock, often considered leftovers from solar system formation.

Question 34

Where are most asteroids found?

Answer 34

In the asteroid belt, located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

Question 35

Where are comets typically found?

Answer 35

Orbiting the Sun in the distant Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud.

Question 36

Why do comets develop tails when they approach the Sun?

Answer 36

The Sun's heat vaporizes the ice, and solar radiation pressure and solar wind blow the released dust and gas away from the nucleus, forming a tail.

Question 37

Where is the ionosphere located?

Answer 37

Between approximately 80 km and 400 km above the Earth's surface.

Question 38

Why is the ionosphere important for radio communication?

Answer 38

This electrically charged layer (due to ionized atoms) can reflect radio waves, enabling long-distance communication. (Note: Reflection depends on frequency.)

Question 39

Where is the ozone layer located?

Answer 39

Within the stratosphere, below the ionosphere.

Question 40

What percentage of Earth's surface is covered by water, earning it the nickname 'Blue Planet'?

Answer 40

Around 71%.

Question 41

What does 'freshwater' refer to?

Answer 41

Water other than seawater or brackish water, having considerably low amounts of dissolved salts. Includes ice caps, glaciers, groundwater, lakes, rivers, etc.

Question 42

What is Earth's albedo?

Answer 42

A measure of its reflectivity – how much incoming sunlight is reflected back into space.

Question 43

What are the primary factors determining Earth's global albedo?

Answer 43

Cloud cover and ice cover on land (especially large ice caps like Greenland and Antarctica).

Question 44

What is Earth's core primarily made of?

Answer 44

Nickel (Ni) and Iron (Fe), often referred to as 'nife'.

Question 45

Which major European river flows through six countries including Germany and France before emptying into the North Sea at Rotterdam?

Answer 45

The Rhine River.

Question 46

Which river flows through London?

Answer 46

The River Thames.

Question 47

Which four national capitals does the Danube River flow through?

Answer 47

Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), and Belgrade (Serbia).

Question 48

What are the 'horse latitudes'?

Answer 48

Subtropical atmospheric high-pressure belts located around 30°-35° North and South latitudes, characterized by light winds and clear skies.

Question 49

Which is longer, a terrestrial mile or a nautical mile?

Answer 49

A nautical mile (approx. 1.85 km) is longer than a terrestrial mile (approx. 1.6 km).

Question 50

What is the Harmattan?

Answer 50

A dusty, cool, dry wind blowing from the northeast/east in the western Sahara over West Africa, strongest in late fall and winter.

Question 51

Which countries primarily make up the Iberian Peninsula?

Answer 51

Portugal and Spain.

Question 52

Why does air temperature generally decrease with increasing altitude in the troposphere?

Answer 52

The Earth's surface is heated by the sun, which warms the air near it. This warm air rises, expands, and cools as it moves further from the heat source.

Question 53

Why is the troposphere thickest at the equator?

Answer 53

Because intense solar heating at the equator causes strong convectional currents that transport heat to greater heights compared to the poles.

Question 54

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Answer 54

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Question 55

Which type of forest covers the highest percentage of forest area in the world?

Answer 55

Temperate Coniferous forests.

Question 56

What type of climate characterizes Temperate Coniferous forests?

Answer 56

Temperate regions with warm summers, cool winters, and adequate rainfall to sustain a forest.

Question 57

In which latitudinal belt does convectional rainfall commonly occur throughout the year?

Answer 57

Areas lying within 5° to 8° latitude on either side of the equator.

Question 58

Why does this region experience frequent convectional rainfall?

Answer 58

Due to consistently high humidity and high temperatures.

Question 59

Which planet in our solar system is the densest?

Answer 59

Earth, with an average density of 5.52 g/cm³.

Question 60

What is the predominant chemical element in Earth's overall composition (by mass)?

Answer 60

Iron (approximately 35%).

Question 61

What is the predominant chemical element in Earth's crust?

Answer 61

Oxygen (approximately 46%).

Question 62

Approximately what percentage of the total mass of the solar system does the Sun contain?

Answer 62

More than 99%.

Question 63

Why do volcanic eruptions generally not occur in the Baltic Sea?

Answer 63

Because it does not lie between tectonic plates.

Question 64

How did the Baltic Sea primarily form?

Answer 64

From the meltwaters of the retreating ice sheet around 13,000-14,000 years ago, influenced by land uplift due to de-glaciation.

Question 65

Which scholar proposed the "Interstellar dust hypothesis" regarding Earth's origin?

Answer 65

O. Schmidt.

Question 66

According to this hypothesis, how did the solar system form?

Answer 66

From a cloud of gas (mostly hydrogen and helium) and dust that slowly contracted under mutual gravity about 4.6 billion years ago.

Question 67

List the five main layers of the atmosphere, divided based on temperature, from lowest to highest altitude.

Answer 67

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere.

Question 68

Which is the lowermost layer of the atmosphere?

Answer 68

The Troposphere.

Question 69

What is the average height of the Troposphere?

Answer 69

13 km (ranging from about 8 km near the poles to 18 km at the equator).

Question 70

In which atmospheric layer is the ozone layer located?

Answer 70

The Stratosphere.

Question 71

What happens to the temperature in the Mesosphere as altitude increases?

Answer 71

It decreases, reaching about -100°C at its upper boundary (around 80 km).

Question 72

Between which altitudes is the Ionosphere primarily located?

Answer 72

Between 80 km and 400 km (above the mesopause).

Question 73

What gives the Ionosphere its name and characteristic property?

Answer 73

It contains electrically charged particles known as ions.