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Q13 (IAS/2024) Geography › World Physical Geography › World climatic regions Official Key

Consider the following description : 

1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low. 

2. Precipitation occurs throughout the year. 

3. Precipitation varies between 50 cm - 250 cm. 

What is this type of climate ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: D
Explanation

The correct answer is option D - Marine West coast climate.

Marine West Coast climate has small annual and daily ranges of temperature, precipitation occurs throughout the year, and precipitation varies greatly from 50-250 cm.[1] This matches all three characteristics given in the question.

While equatorial climates also have low temperature ranges and year-round precipitation, their precipitation is always above 150 cm (between 1,524 mm and 2,540 mm)[3], which doesn't match the wider range of 50-250 cm mentioned in the question. China type climate has a great annual temperature range[4], contradicting the first condition. Humid subtropical climate, while having annual precipitation varying from 75-150 cm[5] and small daily range of temperature[5], doesn't fully encompass the 50-250 cm precipitation range. Marine West Coast climate is located poleward from the Mediterranean climate on the west coast of continents, with main areas being Northwestern Europe, west coast of North America, southern Chile, southeastern Australia and New Zealand.[1]

Sources

  1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: World Climate and Climate Change > Marine West Coast Climate (Cfb) > p. 94
  2. [2] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Precipitation > p. 425
  3. [3] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 15: The Hot, Wet Equatorial Climate > Glimate > p. 151
  4. [4] Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 21: The Warm Temperate Eastern Margin (China Type) Climate > Climate > p. 199
  5. [5] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: World Climate and Climate Change > Humid Subtropical (Cfa) Climate > p. 94
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Q. Consider the following description : 1. Annual and daily range of temperatures is low. 2. Precipitation occurs throughout the year. 3. P…
At a glance
Origin: Mixed / unclear origin Fairness: High fairness Books / CA: 8/10 · 0/10
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This is a 'Ctrl+F' question from NCERT Class XI Fundamentals of Physical Geography. The examiner lifted three sentences verbatim from the 'Marine West Coast Climate' paragraph. While conceptually 'Equatorial' feels close, the specific rainfall floor (50 cm) makes it impossible for a rainforest, serving as the technical differentiator.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Do equatorial climates have a low annual and low diurnal (daily) temperature range?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Certificate Physical and Human Geography , GC Leong (Oxford University press 3rd ed.) > Chapter 15: The Hot, Wet Equatorial Climate > Glimate > p. 150
Presence: 5/5
“Temperature. The most outstanding feature of an equatorial climate is its great uniformity of temper- Nature throughout the year. The mean monthly temperatures are always around 27 °C (80 °F) with very little variation. There is no winter. Cloudiness and heavy precipitation help to moderate the daily temperature, so that even at the equator itself, the climate is not unbearable. In addition, regular land and sea breezes assist in maintaining a truly equable climate. The diurnal range of temperature is small, and so is the annual range. Figs. 15.2(a) and (b) show the rhythm of climate experienced in two different equatorial regions, one on a lowland (Kuala Lumpur) and the other on a highland (Bogota).”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly describes equatorial climate as having great uniformity of temperature year‑round with mean monthly temperatures around 27°C and very little variation.
  • States that diurnal range is small and annual range is also small, citing moderating factors like cloudiness and heavy precipitation.
Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 30: Climatic Regions > Temperature > p. 425
Presence: 5/5
“• Cloudiness, heavy precipitation and regular land and sea breezes (on-shore trade winds) moderate the daily (diurnal) temperature maintaining a truly equable climate (narrow diurnal range of temperature).• The mean diurnal and monthly temperatures are always around 27°C with very little variation.”
Why this source?
  • Explains that cloudiness, heavy precipitation and regular land/sea breezes moderate daily temperature, producing a narrow diurnal range.
  • Notes mean diurnal and monthly temperatures remain around 27°C with very little variation, supporting low annual range as well.
FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: World Climate and Climate Change > Group A : Tropical Humid Climates > p. 92
Presence: 5/5
“Tropical humid climates exist between Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. The sun being overhead throughout the year and the presence of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) make the climate hot and humid. Annual range of temperature is very low and annual rainfall is high. The tropical group is divided into three types, namely (i) Af- Tropical wet climate; (ii) Am - Tropical monsoon climate; (iii) Aw- Tropical wet and dry climate.”
Why this source?
  • States that tropical humid (including equatorial) climates have a very low annual range of temperature due to the sun being overhead throughout the year and ITCZ influence.
  • Links the low annual temperature variability directly to the equatorial/tropical location.
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