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Geophysical Phenomena & Climate Events
GS-I: Society, History & Geography
Useful for: UPSC Civil Services
Overview
Earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanoes, cyclones and extreme climate events shape hazards; understanding mechanisms supports preparedness.
Key points
- India’s seismic zones run from II to V; Zone V is the most hazardous (Himalaya, north-east, Kutch, Andaman).
- The 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was triggered by a massive undersea earthquake off Sumatra.
- Tropical cyclones need sea-surface temperatures above about 26.5 °C.
- A cloudburst is extreme rainfall of about 100 mm or more per hour over a small area.
- Glacial lake outburst floods (e.g. South Lhonak, Sikkim, 2023) threaten Himalayan valleys.
- El Niño and La Niña influence monsoons and extremes.
Practice MCQs
From the perspective of definition and scope, which one of the following statements about Geophysical Phenomena & Climate Events is correct?
- Geophysical Phenomena & Climate Events is unrelated to institutions, processes or real-world applications.
- Geophysical Phenomena & Climate Events has no exceptions or limitations in exam analysis.
- Earthquakes, volcanoes, cyclones, tsunamis and extreme weather differ in physical mechanism and warning potential.
- A natural hazard automatically becomes a disaster of the same magnitude wherever it occurs.
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Answer: (c) Earthquakes, volcanoes, cyclones, tsunamis and extreme weather differ in physical mechanism and warning potential.. Earthquakes, volcanoes, cyclones, tsunamis and extreme weather differ in physical mechanism and warning potential.
Consider the following statements on Geophysical Phenomena & Climate Events, focusing on definition and scope: 1. A natural hazard automatically becomes a disaster of the same magnitude wherever it occurs. 2. Earthquakes, volcanoes, cyclones, tsunamis and extreme weather differ in physical mechanism and warning potential. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 2 only
- Both 1 and 2
- Neither 1 nor 2
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Answer: (b) 2 only. Statement 2 is correct; Statement 1 is a common misconception.
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