ICSE Solutions for Class 9 Geography - Insolation

ICSE Solutions for Class 9 Geography – Insolation

Exercises

I. Short Answer Questions.

Question 1.
What is solar radiation ? What is its significance for the earth ?
Answer:
The sun continuously radiates heat and light energy in all the directions. It
is known as solar radiation. Solar radiation is the only primary source of
light and heat on the earth. The earth receives its heat from solar radiation
which is a tiny fraction of the radiated energy of the sun.

Question 2.
What is meant by insolation ? State two of its main characteristics.
Answer:
The amount of solar energy received by the earth is called insolation, but
only one part out of two billion parts reaches the earth. So, out of total
100% solar energy only 51% reaches the earth, 35% reflected back to into
space and only 14% is absorbed by the ozone layer.

Question 3.
State two advantages of convectional heating of the atmosphere.
Answer:
Convectional heating of the atmosphere is done by heating up the layer of
air touching land surface and rising up to warm up the upper layer, while
the cold wind sinks down and again heated up by the terrestrial radiation.
This circulation causes formation of clouds, rainfall and mild changes in
climatic behaviour.
Question 4.
Name four factors that affect the temperature of a place.
Answer:
The four factors that affect the temperature of a place are :

1. Latitude
2. Distance from the sea.
3. Altitude
4. Wind direction
5. Natural vegetation

Question 5.
How does the distance from the sea affect the distribution of temperature ?
Answer:
Due to the physical property of water, which is heated up and cooled down
slowly with respect to the land. So, the coastal areas experience mild
climate with least range of temperature, while the regions far from the sea
are affected by extreme climate with maximum range of temperature.

Question 6.
State the pattern of temperature in mid latitudes.
Answer:
Due to spherical shape of the earth, temperature zone gets less insolation
resulting in moderate climate with normal temperature ranging from 15°C
to 30°C. The duration of sunshine is greater in summer than winter. So the
summer is warm and winter is cold.

Question 7.
How would the breezes that blow during the day and those that blow
during the night affect the temperature of a place situated in the coastal
 g g p p
region ?
Answer:
During the day the sea breeze blowing from sea towards land keeps the
coastal region cool and during the night land breeze blowing from land
towards sea makes the sea cooler. This interchange of breeze maintains the

heat balance resulting in the mild climate of the coastal regions with lower
daily and annual ranges of temperature.

Question 8.
What difference is there in the temperatures on a mountain and on a sea
shore ?
Answer:
The rate of decrease of temperature is 1°C for every 166 metres, the
temperatures on a mountain are for lesser than the temperatures on a sea
shore which is nearly at zero height.

Question 9.
Why is India cooler in December than in July ?
Answer:
Tropic of Cancer passes midway across India, so, there is summer season in
July, while in December the sun is vertical on the Tropic of Capricorn in
southern hemisphere, so India experiences winter season. So naturally
December is cooler than July.

Question 10.
State two chief characteristics of the Temperate zone.
Answer:
Medium temperature and medium rainfall due to slanting rays of the sun
and less evaporation.

Question 11.
Explain the following:

(a) Diurnal range of temperature.

(b) Mean Monthly Range of Temperature.
(c) Mean Annual Range of Temperature.
Answer:

(a) Diurnal range is the difference between the maximum and minimum
temperature within 24 hours, of the day.
(b) It is the difference between the mean maximum and mean minimum
temperatures within the month.

(c) It is the difference between mean maximum and mean minimum

temperatures within a year, mainly between June and January.

Question 12.
Define briefly ‘Heat Balance”.
Answer:
Heat balance is defined as the state of equilibrium that exists on earth
between incoming insolation from the sun and the out going terrestrial
radiation from the earth.

Question 13.
Name the heat zones of the earth.
Answer:
Torrid zone, Temperate zone and Frigid zone.

II. Distinguish between each of the following

Answer:
Insolation and Terrestrial Radiation.
Insolation :

1. It is the incoming solar radiation intercepted by the earth.

2. It travels in short waves.
3. Insolation involves only 51 units out of 100 units of solar radiation.

Terrestrial Radiation :

1. It is the earth’s radiation given back to atmosphere and space.

2. It travels in long waves.
3. Out of 51 units of insolation 34 units are transferred to the atmosphere
and 17 units go back to space.
Question 2.
Land Breeze and Sea Breeze.
Answer:
Land Breeze :

1. It blows from Land to sea.

2. It blows at night.
3. It makes the sea water cooler.
4. It moderates the temperature of sea.

Sea Breeze :

1. It blows from sea to land.

2. It blows in the day time.
3. It makes coastal parts warmer
4. It moderates the climate of the coastal parts.

Question 3.
Torrid and Temperate Zones.
Answer:
Torrid Zone :

1. It lies between 23 1/2° N and 23 1/2° S

2. It receives highest temperature and rainfall.
3. It receives the vertical sun’s rays.
4. Equatorial region and the tropical belt receive maximum insolatioa

Temperate Zone :

1. It lies between 23 1/2° N and 66 1/2° N & 23 1/2° S and 66 1/2° S

2. It receives medium, temperature and rainfall.
3. It received slanting rays of sun.
4. Due to spherical shape of the earth, this zone received quite less amount
 of insolation.

Question 4.
Annual Range and Monthly Range of Temperature.
Answer:
Annual Range of Temperature :

1. It is the difference between the highest and lowest temperatures within

one year.
2. It is the difference between the highest temperature of May-June and
lowest temperature in December January, i.e. the temperature
difference between summer and winter.

Monthly range of Temperature :

1. It is the difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures

within a month.
2. Mostly the middle of month is noted for maximum and end of the
month records minimum temperatures.

III. Give reasons for each of the following

Question 1.
North India has a greater range of temperature than South India.
Answer:
North India comes in temperate zone, while South India comes in Torrid
Zone situated in the North and South of Tropic of Cancer. So North Indian
places have greater range, which is greatest in the Desert of Rajasthan.

Question 2.
The temperature of Delhi is less than that of Chennai in December.
Answer:
Delhi is far from sea, while Chennai is situated along the coast of Bay of
Bengal. So Delhi is colder than Chennai in December.

Question 3.
Distance from the sea affects the temperature of a place.
Answer:
Warm effect of sea keeps the temperature less in summer and higher in
winter, e.g. Bombay (Mumbai) is wanner than Delhi in winter.

Question 4.
Land is heated and cooled faster than the sea.
Answer:
In the desert of Rajasthan range of temperature is highest due to the
physical property of land to be heated and cooled down quickly with
respect to the sea. So, the temperature difference is least at Mangalore and
Chennai.

Question 5.
The temperature of a place depends largely upon its latitude.
Answer:
As the rays of the sun become more and more slanting with increasing
latitudes. So the tropical region never gets snowfall, while the polar region
is always frozen.

Question 6.
Desert areas experience a high day temperature and a much lower night
temperature.
Answer:
Desert areas are covered with large sand plains. The physical property of
the sand is to heated up quickly and cooled down abruptly ; so the day
temperature is very high and the night temperature is very less.

Question 7.
The ports of the western coast of Europe remain ice- free during winter.
Answer:
Due to the warm effect of the Gulf Stream and North Atlantic Drift the ports
of Western Europe remain ice free in winter to motivate successful
international oceanic trade, e.g., London, Calais, Lisbon, Amsterdam, Brest,
Le Havre etc.

PQ. The earth’s surface receives only about 51% of the Solar energy.
Answer:
Out of 100 units, only 51 units are received by the earth as isolation, while
35 units are reflected back by atmospheric layers, clouds, snowfields and 14
units are absorbed by ozone layer
units are absorbed by ozone layer.

Question 8.
The vertical rays of the sun give more insolation than the slanting rays.
Answer:
Tropical region gets vertical rays of the sun and receive much heat

providing high temperature while the temperate and polar regions have
less temperature due to slanting rays of the sun.

Question 9.
A desert region has a high range of temperature than a forest region.
Answer:
A desert region gets highly heated and quickly cooled down due to the sand
cover; while the forested region most of the solar energy is used in
transpiration in vegetation realm and do not become very hot. On the other
hand due to the emission of carbon dioxide by plants the temperature is
maintained due to the heat absorbing property of CO2.

IV. Long Answer Questions

Question 1.
Describe the four factors that affect the distribution of temperature.
Answer:
The factors are different physical properties of land and water keeping
continental climate cold and oceanic climate mild
Latitude The temperature decreases from the equator towards poles.
Distance from the sea keeping coastal ports mild and areas for from sea
cold.
Altitude mountains are cooler than plains due to the lapse rate of decrease
of temperature of 1°C for every 166 m. of height; Slope of the land South
facing slopes of mountains are warmer than northern facing. Inversion of
temperature takes place in hilly valley regions due to higher sunny slopes
and the valley downward covered with fog and snow are cooler than
higher slopes.
Wind direction Windword slopes get much rainfall, while the Leeward
slopes are drier.
Natural vegetation cover absorbs 90% of solar energy, which is again
consumed in transpiration and keeping the forested are mild, while snowy
lands are cold.
Cloud Cover and Humidity: Clouds reflect the sunlight leaving the land
below cool. Still, the humidity absorbs heat keeping these areas with
average temperatures not more than 30°C.

Question 2.
Explain the effect of latitude and ocean currents on the temperature of a
place.
Answer:
The Tropical areas are far warmer than the polar areas due to difference in
the angle of incidence of the rays of the sun. Ocean currents greatly affect
tire climate of a place or region e.g. the European western coast enjoy ice-
free coasts and developed navigation due to the warm, effect of Gulf Stream
– North Atlantic Drift, while the cold current of Benguala keeps the warm
South African coast cool and mild.

Question 3.
Describe the heat budget of the earth.
Answer:
Heat budget is actually the Heat Balance of incoming and outgoing
radiation.
The incoming solar radiation comes towards earth in short waves and
provides heat to the earth as insolation in the day and again this insolation
is given back by terrestrial radiation at night. This balance is called heat
budget.

Question 4.
State how the Global Heat Balance is achieved ?
Answer:
Out of 100 units of solar radiation 35 units are reflected back by
atmospheric layers and clouds and snowfields etc, 14 units are absorbed by
the ultra-violet rays in ozone layer and only 51 units are received by the
earth as insolation and again these 51 units are reflected back by terrestrial
radiation out of which 34 units are absorbed by the earth and sent back to
atmospheric layers and 17 units radiated back into the space. This process
is called the Heat budget or Global Heat Balance.
Question 5.
With the help of a diagram, show the heat zones of the earth and write
briefly about each of them.
Answer:

1. Torrid Zone : It lies between 23 1/2° N and 23 1/2° S latitudes. This zone
receives maximum temperature due to vertical rays of the sun and
maximum rainfall.
2. Temperate Zone : It lies between 23 1/2° N – 66 1/2° N and 23 1/2° S – 66
1/2° S. It is known for medium temperature and rainfall due to slanting
rays of the sun.
3. Frigid Zone : It lies between 66 1/2° N – 90° N and to 66 1/2° S – 90° S.
The sun’s rays are slanting and have to cover a very large distance.
Besides this, inspite of long summer covering 6 months, the sun’s heat is
immediately reflected back by the snow cover. So, the temperature is
extremely low and cold Blizzards (icy winds) blow from Poles towards
Arctic and Antarctic circles. The coldest place on the face of the earth is
Varkhoyansk (-58°C) in N.E. Siberia. Although the temperature in
Antarctic may be -94°C, but there is no habituated place, (as the
 definition of a place is the area inhabited by people).

Question 6.
Study the table and answer the following questions :
 y gq

1. Calculate the mean annual temperature

2. Calculate annual range of temperature
3. Name the hemisphere in which it is located. Give reasons to support
your answer.

Answer:

1. Sum of the temperature of hottest month of the year 4.4 + 10.0 + 13.3 +
16.0 + 15.0 + 10.0 + 5.0 = 73.7 Sum of the temperature of coldest month of
the year

2. Annual range of temperature = Highest temperature in a month of year

– Lowest temperature in a month of year = 16°C – 2°C = 14°C
3. It is located in Northern hemisphere :
The Reason is due to the Earth’s Axial tilt, in the Northern hemisphere
winter lasts from the winter solstice (typically December) to the March
Equinox (typically March). While the summer lasts from the summer
solstice (typically June) through the autumnal Equinox (typically
September).

Question 7.
Name four factors that affect the temperature of a place.
Answer:
Four factors are :
 1. Distance from equator
2. Distance from sea
3. Altitude from the sea-level
4. Slope of the land.

Question 8.
Describe world temperature patterns and its three chief characteristics.
Answer:
The world distribution of temperature generally shows a decreases in
insolation from the Equator towards the poles. But this pattern is not
everywhere the same. Three chief characteristics are the distance from the
sea, physical properties of land and ocean (water), Height from the sea
level.

Question 9.
Explain the ranges of temperature and show their calculation.
Answer:
The Diurnal range is calculated by subtracting minimum temperature from
the maximum temperature within 24 hours or of one day. The Mean
monthly range is calculated by subtracting the mean minimum
temperature from mean maximum temperature within 30 days or a month.
Annual range of temperature is calculated by subtracting the mean
minimum temperature from the mean maximum temperature within one
year i.e. mostly between June and January.

V. Practical Exercises

Question 1.
Draw a labelled diagram showing the heat budget of the earth.
Answer:

Question 2.
Calculate the mean annual temperature and annual range of temperature
of the following station and name the hemisphere in which it is located.
Answer:
Mean annual temperature is 3.5°C.
The range of temperature is 20°C.
It is located in Northern hemisphere.

Practice Questions (Solved)

Question 1.
State the importance of insolation.
Answer:
Importance of insolation The radiant energy received by the earth from the
sun is called the incoming solar radiation or insolation. The insolation
received by the earth is responsible for all forms of activity on the Earth.
The circulation in the atmosphere is due to the differential heating of the
atmosphere by insolation. The radiant energy from the sun enables plants
to manufacture their own food. This forms the basis for food needed by all
other organisms on the Earth. The circulation of ocean water is also due to
the unequal heating of the ocean water by insolation.

Question 2.
Why does only 51% of the insolation reach the Earth’s surface ?
Answer:
Only 51% of the insolation reaches the earth’s surface because 35% is
reflected back into space by the atmospheric layers and 14% is absorbed by
the atmosphere.

Question 3.
What do you understand by daily range of temperature and annual range
of temperature ?
Answer:
The difference between the maximum and minimum temperature recorded
in a particular day at a place is called daily range of temperature. It is low
in coastal areas while it is high in deserts and in interiors of continents.
The difference between the mean temperature of the hottest month (July)
and mean temperature of the coldest month is called the annual range of
temperature. It is low equatorial region, while it is high in polar areas.

Question 4.
Define the following :

(a) Daily Mean Temperature.

(b) Monthly Mean Temperature.
(c) Annual Mean Temperature.
(d) Mean Temperature of a place.

Answer:

(a) Daily Mean Temperature — The average of the maximum temperature

and minimum temperature recorded during a day (24 hours) is known as
daily mean temperature.
Daily Mean Temperature

For example, if a place has the maximum temperature of 39°C and

minimum temperature of 27°C for a particular day, the daily mean
temperature.

(b) Monthly Mean Temperature — The average of the daily mean

temperature of all days of a month is known as monthly mean temperature.
Monthly mean temperature of July

(c) Annual Mean Temperature — The average of daily mean temperature

of all days of a year is known as Annual mean temperature.
Annual mean temperature of year 2010
(d) Mean Temperature of a place — Mean temperature of a place is
obtained by collecting the data for a period of 30 – 40 years. The average of
mean annual temperature of a place is calculated. This is also known as
normal temperature of a place.
Mean temperature

Question 5.
Distinguish between maritime climate and continental climate.
Answer:
The nearness to sea has a moderating influence on the temperature of
coastal areas. Maritime or equable temperatures are found in coastal areas.
But extremes of temperatures, with a continental climate, are found in
inland areas remote from the sea. Due to the presence of land breezes and
sea breezes in coastal areas : the summers are warm and winters are cool.
This is due to the differential heating and cooling of land and water. Land
surfaces are heated more quickly than water. But a greater annual range of
temperature is found as we go away from the equator. The climate of
Mumbai is more equable than that of Delhi.

Question 6.
Explain the importance of insolation.
Answer:
Sun is the most important source of atmospheric heat. Sun’s diameter is
more than 100 times the Earth’s diameter and has a surface temperature of
more than 10,000 °F. The heat waves radiate from the sun in all directions
at a speed 186,000 miles per second of 3 lakh km per second. The solar
radiation received by the earth is 1/2000 millionth part of solar output. Yet,
this small amount is vital for our existence on the earth. It is estimated that,
th th th i b t19 l i i t
on the average the earth receives about 1.9 g calories per minute per sq. cm.
This is known as ‘solar constant’. All the physical phenomena depend upon
insolation. Winds and ocean currents originate due to insolation. The earth
is habitable only due to insolation.

Question 7.
Explain the Greenhouse effect of atmosphere.

Answer:
Atmosphere is heated by the radiation from the earth’s surface below. This
action is compared to that of a glasshouse of greenhouse in which vegetable
and flowers are grown in polar areas. Glasshouse permits radiation to get
in but does not allow radiation to escape out. Therefore, glasshouse is
warmer from inside than outside. Atmosphere also acts like a blanket
keeping the earth warm. It is known as greenhouse effect of atmosphere.
This is due to presence of carbon dioxide in atmosphere. Carbon dioxide
has the ability to absorb earth radiation. The carbon dioxide layer acts as a
glass roof of the greenhouse. With the increase in carbon dioxide, the
temperature of the earth is increasing. Due to this, the year 1955 was the
hottest year in India during this century.

Question 8.
What is global warming ? What are its causes ? State its effects.
Answer:
Global warming : The burning of fossil fuels, (coal, gas, petroleum), the
cultivation of soil, large scale industrialisation, rapid means of transport
and deforestation has caused an imbalance in the atmosphere. These
activities are increasing the amount of carbon dioxide. Thus, greenhouse
effect has raised the average, temperature of the earth by 0.5°C. By the year
2000, the earth’s, average temperature will go up by 2°C. This is called
global warming. Global warming is causing a rise in sea-levels due to
melting of glaciers. It is threatening to submerge many coastal areas.

Question 9.
Mountains are cooler than plains. Discuss.
Answer:
The temperature decreases with height at the rate of 1°C per 165 metres or
about 0°C per kilometre. The atmosphere is heated by radiation from the
earth below. Therefore, lower layers are warmer than higher layers. There
is absence of water vapour and dust particles on high mountains. So there
is unchecked radiation. That is why mountains are cooler than plains.
Shimla is cooler than Delhi. Similarly, Nainital is cooler than Allahabad.

Question 10.
“Winter nights at Delhi are cooler than in Mumbai”. Why?
Answer:
Mumbai has an equable climate due to coastal location, while Delhi is an
inland town. The presence of land and sea breezes keep the nights warm at
Mumbai.

Question 11.
Vertical rays are Hotter than slanting rays. Why ?
Answer:
Vertical rays are hotter than slanting rays due to the following reasons:

Vertical rays heat up a smaller surface. Hence, the heat received per unit
of area is large. On the other hand, slanting rays heat up a large area.
Vertical rays travel through a shorter distance in the atmosphere and
the loss of heat is less. Slanting rays travel a longer distance through the
atmosphere where much of its heat is absorbed by clouds, water vapour
and dust particles.

Question 12.
Why is noon hotter than morning and evening ?
Or
Maximum temperatures are found in the afternoon. Why?
Answer:
The sun is overhead at noon. The Sun rays are almost vertical. But in the
morning and evening, the angle of Sun rays is oblique. Slanting rays fall in
the morning and evening. Vertical rays are hotter than slanting rays. As the
vertical rays give more heat per unit area, the noon is hotter than morning
and evening.

Question 13.
‘Despite its location in higher latitudes, the coast of Norway is never frozen.’
Why ?
Answer:
The areas situated in higher latitudes have a cold climate. In winter, these
areas have temperatures below freezing point (0°C). But coast of Norway is
never frozen. Its ports are ice free. North Atlantic Drift (Gulf Stream
currents) flows along its coast. It is a warm current which raises the winter
temperatures of this area.

Question 14.
Why are the northern slopes of Himalayas cooler than its southern slopes ?
Answer:
The Northern Slopes of Himalayas are away from the Sun. These slopes get
oblique rays. These slopes are exposed to cold winds. These are shady
slopes and are cooler. But the Southern Slopes are Sun facing slopes. These
get Sun’s rays more directly and also for longer periods. These are Sunny
slopes and shelters from cold winds. So the Southern Slopes of Himalayas
are warmer than northern slopes.