Q81 · UPSC Prelims 2022 · Set A · Geography

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Consider the following statements:1.High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth.2.Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth's surface and thus cause warming effect.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A 1 only
B 2 only
C Both 1 and 2
D Neither 1 nor 2

Correct answer: (d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

  1. A

    1 only

    1 only. High clouds are not primarily a cooling reflector in the keyed physics.

  2. B

    2 only

    2 only. Low clouds are the stronger reflectors (cooling), not IR absorbers that warm as stated.

  3. C

    Both 1 and 2

    Both. Each sentence swaps the usual high/low cloud radiative roles.

  4. D

    Neither 1 nor 2

    Neither. High clouds tend to trap outgoing IR (warming); low clouds raise albedo (cooling). The statements reverse that.

Summary. Official key is (d) neither. High, thin clouds are better at trapping long-wave radiation; low, thick clouds reflect solar radiation and cool the surface. Statement 1 and statement 2 swap those roles.

Same topic · past papers

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  1. 2025 · Q64 · General Studies · 2 marks

    The World Bank warned that India could become one of the first places where wet-bulb temperatures routinely exceed 35°. Which of the following statements best reflect(s) the implication of the above-said report? I. Peninsular India will most likely suffer from flooding, tropical cyclones and droughts. II. The survival of animals including humans will be affected as shedding of their body heat through perspiration becomes difficult. Select the correct answer using the code given below

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