Insights Static Quiz -28, 2018

Solution: a)

Greenhouse gases are those that absorb and emit infrared radiation in the wavelength range emitted by Earth.^[1]In order, the most abundant greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere are:

• Water vapor (H2O)
• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Methane (CH4)
• Nitrous oxide (N2O)
• Ozone (O3)
• Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
• Hydrofluorocarbons (incl. HCFCs and HFCs)

Nitrogen dioxide is the chemical compound with the formula NO 2. It is one of several nitrogen oxides. NO 2 is an intermediate in the industrial synthesis of nitric acid, millions of tons of which are produced each year. At higher temperatures it is a reddish-brown gas that has a characteristic sharp, biting odor and is a prominent air pollutant. (not proven as GHG)

Solution: d)

The major atmospheric constituents, nitrogen (N 2), oxygen (O2), and argon (Ar), are not greenhouse gases because molecules containing two atoms of the same element such as N 2 and O 2 and monatomic molecules such as argon (Ar) have no net change in the distribution of their electrical charges when they vibrate. Hence they are almost totally unaffected by infrared radiation. Although molecules containing two atoms of different elements such as carbon monoxide (CO) or hydrogen chloride (HCl) absorb infrared radiation, these molecules are short-lived in the atmosphere owing to their reactivity and solubility. Therefore, they do not contribute significantly to the greenhouse effect and often are omitted when discussing greenhouse gases.

Although option (c)  seems right, it doesn’t full explain the question. These confusing type of questions are asked by UPSC.

Solution: a)

The solar irradiance is the output of light energy from the entire disk of the Sun, measured at the Earth. It is looking at the Sun as we would a star rather than as a image.

The solar spectral irradiance is a measure of the brightness of the entire Sun at a wavelength of light. Important spectral irradiance variations are seen in many wavelengths, from the visible and IR, through the UV, to EUV and X-ray. As we look at the solar irradiance we should remember that space weather is related to ionization, while climate is related to absorption of heat.

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sdo/science/solar-irradiance.html

Solution: c)

UPSC asks similar questions (about unheard species sometimes)

The jerboa forms the bulk of the membership of the family Dipodidae. Jerboas are hopping desert rodents found throughout Northern Africa and Asia east to northern China and Manchuria.[1] They tend to live in hot deserts (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerboa)

A kangaroo mouse is either one of the two species of jumping mouse (genus Microdipodops) native to the deserts of the southwestern United States, predominantly found in the state of Nevada. The name “kangaroo mouse” refers to the species’ extraordinary jumping ability, as well as its habit of bipedal locomotion. (https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2486/10-interesting-things-about-ecosystems/)

Kangaroos live in Eastern Australia, not in deserts. They live in varied habitats, from forests and woodland areas to grassy plains and savannas.

Solution: c)

Alpine tundra occurs at high enough altitude at any latitude. Portions of montane grasslands and shrublands ecoregions worldwide include alpine tundra. Large regions of alpine tundra occur in the Himalayas in Asia, American Cordillera in North and South America, the Alps, the Scandinavian mountains, Pyrenees and Carpathian Mountains of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains, the Rift Mountains of Africa, and a large portion of the Tibetan Plateau.