UPSC Prelims 2001 Q20: Geography – Atmosphere & Climatology
Match List I with List II
and select the correct answer using the codes given below the Lists:
List I (Local Wind)
I. Fohn
II. Samun
III. Santa Ana
IV. Zonda
List II (Region)
A) Argentina B) Kurdistan C) California D) Alps
Codes:
- (a) I - B, II - D, III - A, IV - C
- (b) I - D, II - B, III - C, IV - A
- (c) I - B, II - D, III - C, IV - A
- (d) I - D, II - B, III - A, IV - C
Answer: (b) I - D, II - B, III - C, IV - A
Explanation
Matching local winds with their regions
| Local wind (List I) | Region (List II) |
|---|---|
| I. Fohn | D. Alps — warm dry wind down the northern slopes |
| II. Samun | B. Kurdistan — hot dry wind in Iran and Iraq |
| III. Santa Ana | C. California — hot dry wind from the interior, linked to wildfires |
| IV. Zonda | A. Argentina — Fohn-type wind down the Andes |
All four are hot, dry winds. Fohn blows down the Alps, Samun over Kurdistan, Santa Ana in southern California, and Zonda down the eastern Andes in Argentina. So the code is I-D, II-B, III-C, IV-A.
Answer: (b) I - D, II - B, III - C, IV - A.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Fohn is an Alpine wind, not one of Kurdistan.
- (b) CORRECT. Fohn–Alps, Samun–Kurdistan, Santa Ana–California, Zonda–Argentina.
- (c) Incorrect. Fohn and Samun are swapped.
- (d) Incorrect. Santa Ana and Zonda are swapped.
Key point
Fohn-type winds: Fohn (Alps), Chinook (Rockies), Zonda (Andes), Santa Ana (California), Berg (South Africa).
Remember
Fohn–Alps, Samun–Kurdistan, Santa Ana–California, Zonda–Argentina.
Common mistakes
- Swapping Zonda and Santa Ana because both are in the Americas.
- Placing Samun in the Sahara instead of Kurdistan.
- Not knowing that Fohn is the name-giver of all such winds.
Exam tip
Start with the surest pair (Fohn–Alps) and cut the options.
Sources
- NCERT Class XI — Fundamentals of Physical Geography, chapter 'Atmospheric Circulation and Weather Systems'
- Savindra Singh — Physical Geography, chapter on local winds