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Tropical Meteorology & Cyclones (Meteorology) Solved Questions & Notes (2026) - Apex Rankers

Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences > Meteorology > Tropical Meteorology & Cyclones

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Tropical Meteorology & Cyclones

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Q. 1 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
What is the minimum Sea Surface Temperature (SST) generally required for tropical cyclogenesis?
A
20.0 °C
B
26.5 °C (or ~80 °F) through an ocean mixed layer depth of at least 50 meters
✓ Correct
C
32.0 °C
D
15.0 °C
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Tropical cyclogenesis requires an SST of at least 26.5 °C through a depth of ~50 meters to provide sufficient sensible and latent heat fluxes to fuel the tropical engine.
Q. 2 Meteorology
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
What is the thermodynamic engine concept of a tropical cyclone formulated by Kerry Emanuel?
A
A Carnot heat engine driven by temperature differences between the warm tropical ocean surface and the cold tropical tropopause
✓ Correct
B
A perpetual motion machine fueled by ozone
C
An Otto cycle internal combustion engine
D
A nuclear fusion process
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Kerry Emanuel modeled tropical cyclones as finite-amplitude Carnot heat engines taking in latent and sensible heat from the warm ocean (high T) and exhausting heat at the cold tropopause (low T ~ -70 °C).
Q. 3 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
What is the central region of a mature tropical cyclone characterized by light winds, descending air, and often clear skies called?
A
The Eyewall
B
The Eye
✓ Correct
C
The Spiral Band
D
The Storm Surge
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The eye is the calm, roughly circular center of a tropical cyclone (typically 20-50 km diameter) featuring gentle subsidence, adiabatic warming, and relatively clear skies.
Q. 4 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
Where are the strongest sustained horizontal winds, lowest pressure gradient, and most intense convective rainfall located in a tropical cyclone?
A
In the central eye
B
In the Eyewall immediately surrounding the eye
✓ Correct
C
In the outermost rainband 500 km away
D
At the tropopause exhaust level
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The eyewall is a dense ring of towering cumulonimbus clouds surrounding the eye containing the maximum winds, deepest updrafts, and heaviest precipitation.
Q. 5 Meteorology
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
What is 'Vertical Wind Shear' and why is low vertical wind shear essential for tropical cyclone development and maintenance?
A
Strong shear accelerates storm rotation
B
Strong shear tilts and tears apart the vertically aligned warm-core convective column, ventilating and disrupting the central core
✓ Correct
C
Shear increases ocean salinity
D
Shear causes cloud seeding
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Low vertical wind shear (< 10 m/s between 850 hPa and 200 hPa) is critical because strong shear ventilates the warm core, preventing latent heat from concentrating vertically to lower surface pressure.
Q. 6 Meteorology
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
Why is a tropical cyclone termed a 'warm-core' system, unlike mid-latitude extra-tropical cyclones?
A
Because its center at mid-to-upper levels is significantly warmer than the surrounding environment due to massive latent heat release
✓ Correct
B
Because it only forms over deserts
C
Because it has no clouds in the center
D
Because it is driven by cold fronts
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Tropical cyclones are warm-core systems: latent heat released in eyewall updrafts makes the upper core much warmer than the surrounding ambient air, causing pressure to drop most intensely at the surface.
Q. 7 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
What scale is used internationally to classify tropical cyclones (hurricanes) based on 1-minute sustained wind speeds into Categories 1 through 5?
A
Enhanced Fujita Scale
B
Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale
✓ Correct
C
Richter Scale
D
Scoville Scale
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale classifies hurricanes from Category 1 (64-82 kt / 119-153 km/h) to Category 5 (>= 137 kt / >= 252 km/h).
Q. 8 Meteorology
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
What meteorological technique uses satellite infrared and visible imagery patterns to estimate tropical cyclone intensity without direct aircraft reconnaissance?
A
Dvorak Technique
✓ Correct
B
Doppler Method
C
Barnes Objective Analysis
D
Loran System
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Vernon Dvorak developed the Dvorak technique (assigning T-numbers from T1.0 to T8.0 based on cloud features like curved bands, shear patterns, and eye temperature) to estimate intensity from satellite images.
Q. 9 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
What is a 'Storm Surge'?
A
An abnormal rise in sea level generated by atmospheric winds and low pressure of a cyclone, leading to catastrophic coastal inundation
✓ Correct
B
A tsunami caused by an earthquake
C
High tide caused by the full moon
D
River water overflowing due to snowmelt
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Storm surge is the abnormal rise of sea level above normal astronomical tide driven onshore by the intense onshore winds of a tropical cyclone and, to a lesser extent, the inverse barometer effect.
Q. 10 Meteorology
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
In the North Indian Ocean basin (Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal), which specialized regional center is designated by WMO to issue tropical cyclone advisories?
A
National Hurricane Center (Miami)
B
RSMC New Delhi (India Meteorological Department - IMD)
✓ Correct
C
Tokyo Typhoon Center
D
Joint Typhoon Warning Center
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
RSMC New Delhi is the WMO-designated Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre for tropical cyclones in the North Indian Ocean basin, coordinating with member states including Pakistan.
Q. 11 Meteorology
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
What threshold of maximum sustained surface wind speed defines a 'Severe Cyclonic Storm' in the IMD/PMD classification system?
A
17 to 27 knots
B
28 to 33 knots
C
48 to 63 knots (89 to 117 km/h)
✓ Correct
D
120+ knots
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
In the North Indian Ocean classification, a Cyclonic Storm has winds of 34-47 kt, and a Severe Cyclonic Storm (SCS) has sustained winds of 48-63 kt (89-117 km/h).
Q. 12 Meteorology
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
What was the name of the Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm that made landfall near Keti Bandar in Thatta, Sindh, Pakistan in May 1999 causing widespread destruction?
A
Cyclone Phet
B
Cyclone Gonu
C
1999 Pakistan Cyclone (02A)
✓ Correct
D
Cyclone Biparjoy
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The 1999 Pakistan Cyclone (02A / Cat 3 equivalent) struck Thatta and Badin in Sindh on May 20, 1999, bringing a devastating storm surge and claiming thousands of lives.
Q. 13 Meteorology
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
In June 2007, which Category 5 equivalent cyclone became the strongest recorded tropical cyclone in the Arabian Sea?
A
Cyclone Gonu
✓ Correct
B
Cyclone Nargis
C
Cyclone Tauktae
D
Cyclone Nilofar
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Tropical Cyclone Gonu (June 2007) attained peak 1-minute sustained winds of 270 km/h (165 mph) in the Arabian Sea, becoming the strongest recorded cyclone in the basin.
Q. 14 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
Which major tropical cyclone in June 2023 affected the coast of Sindh, Pakistan and Gujarat, India?
A
Cyclone Biparjoy
✓ Correct
B
Cyclone Amphan
C
Cyclone Fani
D
Cyclone Hudhud
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Extremely Severe Cyclonic Storm Biparjoy formed in the Arabian Sea in June 2023 and had a long lifespan, making landfall near the India-Pakistan border near Jakhau/Kutch.
Q. 15 Meteorology
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
What is an 'Eyewall Replacement Cycle' (ERC) in intense tropical cyclones?
A
The cyclone losing its rotation completely
B
An outer concentric eyewall forms, choking the inner eyewall which dissipates, temporarily weakening the cyclone before re-intensification
✓ Correct
C
The cyclone reversing its course
D
Cold air entering from the ocean floor
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
In strong cyclones (Cat 3+), concentric outer eyewalls form. The outer eyewall cuts off moisture and momentum to the inner eyewall, causing it to collapse and temporarily weakening peak winds while expanding the wind field.
Q. 16 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
Why do tropical cyclones weaken rapidly after making landfall on land?
A
Loss of the warm ocean heat and moisture supply, coupled with increased surface frictional dissipation
✓ Correct
B
Increase in Coriolis force on land
C
Absence of sunlight over continents
D
Gravitational pull of mountains
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Landfall cuts off the storm's primary fuel source (evaporation of warm seawater) and introduces higher terrain friction, resulting in rapid central pressure rises and wind decay.
Q. 17 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
What is 'Tropical Depression' defined as in international classification?
A
A tropical disturbance with organized cyclonic surface circulation and maximum sustained winds < 34 knots (up to 62 km/h / 38 mph)
✓ Correct
B
A severe blizzard in the tropics
C
An ocean trench in the Mariana basin
D
A depression with winds > 74 knots
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
A tropical depression is an organized system of clouds and thunderstorms with a defined surface cyclonic circulation and maximum sustained winds of 17–33 knots.
Q. 18 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
What is the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ)?
A
A sub-polar region where westerlies meet polar easterlies
B
A low-pressure belt near the equator where the northeast and southeast trade winds converge, triggering vigorous convective thunderstorms
✓ Correct
C
A high-pressure belt at 30° latitude
D
The boundary between the mesosphere and thermosphere
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The ITCZ (also called the Monsoon Trough or Doldrums) is the equatorial zone of low pressure where maritime trade winds from both hemispheres converge, resulting in broad upward vertical motion and heavy rainfall.
Q. 19 Meteorology
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
Why does the ITCZ shift substantially further north over South Asia (up to 25°-30° N) during July than over the Atlantic or Pacific Oceans?
A
Due to the intense heating of the vast Asian landmass and the elevated Tibetan Plateau
✓ Correct
B
Due to magnetic field variations
C
Due to Earth's elliptical orbit reaching perihelion
D
Due to high ocean currents in the Mediterranean
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The immense continentality of Asia and the elevated heat source of the Tibetan Plateau generate massive thermal contrast, drawing the ITCZ/monsoon trough far north across Pakistan and Northern India in summer.
Q. 20 Meteorology
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
What is the 'Somali Jet' (or Findlater Jet) in monsoon meteorology?
A
A high-altitude westerly jet stream over Europe
B
An intense, low-level cross-equatorial southwesterly jet stream flowing off the coast of East Africa across the Arabian Sea toward South Asia in summer
✓ Correct
C
A polar easterly jet stream over Siberia
D
A volcanic ash plume
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The Somali Jet is a low-level cross-equatorial jet (core around 850 hPa / 1.5 km altitude) that channels huge quantities of moisture from the southern Indian Ocean into the Arabian Sea toward the subcontinent.
Q. 21 Meteorology
Difficulty: Hard (1 Mark)
What upper-tropospheric wind feature at 100-150 hPa is a defining signature of the active South Asian summer monsoon?
A
Tropical Easterly Jet (TEJ) situated south of the Tibetan High
✓ Correct
B
Polar Front Jet
C
Trade wind inversion
D
Katabatic wind
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The Tropical Easterly Jet (TEJ) forms in the upper troposphere (150-100 hPa) on the southern flank of the massive upper-level Tibetan Anticyclone during the boreal summer.
Q. 22 Meteorology
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
What is a 'Monsoon Depression'?
A
A low-pressure synoptic system with central pressure 2-10 hPa below surroundings, forming over the Bay of Bengal and moving west-northwestward across Central India toward Pakistan, producing widespread heavy rain
✓ Correct
B
A psychological state caused by cloudy weather
C
A deep trench in the Indian Ocean
D
A high-pressure system causing drought
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Monsoon depressions are warm-core-aloft, quasi-cyclonic vortices that form in the monsoon trough over the northern Bay of Bengal or land, propagating WNW across the subcontinent and delivering heavy rains to Pakistan.
Q. 23 Meteorology
Difficulty: Medium (1 Mark)
What is a 'Break Monsoon' period over South Asia?
A
When monsoon rains fall continuously for 30 days without stopping
B
A temporary cessation of monsoon rainfall over central plains of Pakistan and India as the monsoon trough shifts northward to the Himalayan foothills
✓ Correct
C
The permanent end of the rainy season
D
The arrival of winter snow
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
During a 'break monsoon', the monsoon trough migrates north to the Himalayan foothills. Rainfall largely ceases over central and southern agricultural plains while intensifying along the mountains, often causing riverine flooding.
Q. 24 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
What meteorological event caused the unprecedented, historic catastrophic floods in Pakistan during July-August 2022?
A
A single hurricane in the Arabian Sea
B
Prolonged multi-week monsoon surges driven by consecutive monsoon depressions combined with La Niña and intense heatwaves that primed the atmosphere
✓ Correct
C
A tsunami from the Makran trench
D
A dam break in China
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
The 2022 Pakistan floods were driven by exceptional, persistent monsoon depressions that struck Sindh and Balochistan (receiving over 500-700% above normal rainfall), fueled by La Niña and extreme pre-monsoon heat.
Q. 25 Meteorology
Difficulty: Easy (1 Mark)
What is a 'Flash Flood'?
A
A slow rise in river level over two weeks
B
A rapid, extreme flood with a peak flow that occurs within minutes to less than 6 hours after intense convective rainfall or dam/levee failure
✓ Correct
C
High tide at full moon
D
Moisture evaporating off a lake
💡 Step-by-Step Explanation & Concept Rationale
Flash floods occur suddenly with little or no warning, characterized by rapid water rise in steep, narrow drainage basins following intense torrential rainfall or cloudbursts.
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