Daily Static Quiz (Geography) March 22, 2025

Daily Static Quiz (Geography) 

Question 1

Consider the following statements about the Kuiper Belt:

1. Its orbital inclinations are predominantly aligned with the ecliptic plane.

2. It is the primary source of Halley-type comets.

3. The New Horizons mission explored a Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) after its Pluto flyby.

4. Its objects are spectrally distinct from Oort Cloud comets due to higher ammonia content.

Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 and 4 only
c) 1, 3, and 4 only
d) 2, 3, and 4 only

Question 2

The “South Atlantic Anomaly” is associated with:
a) Reduced intensity of Earth’s magnetic field affecting satellite operations.
b) Enhanced auroral activity due to solar wind penetration.
c) Formation of ozone holes over the Antarctic region.
d) Increased frequency of submarine volcanic eruptions.

Question 3

Which of the following phenomena are direct consequences of magnetospheric substorms?

1. Auroral oval expansion

2. Geomagnetically induced currents (GICs)

3. Formation of equatorial electrojet

4. Trapped particle acceleration in Van Allen belts

Select the correct answer using the code below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 1, 2, and 4 only
c) 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 3, and 4 only

Question 4

In the context of seafloor spreading, the “Vine-Matthews-Morley hypothesis” primarily explains:
a) Symmetrical magnetic anomalies parallel to mid-ocean ridges.
b) Age progression of oceanic crust away from trenches.
c) Formation of transform faults along fracture zones.
d) Hydrothermal vent ecosystems at spreading centers.

Question 5

A marine survey reveals alternating bands of high and low magnetic intensity symmetrically distributed across a mid-ocean ridge. This pattern is best explained by:
a) Periodic changes in Earth’s rotation axis.
b) Seafloor spreading during magnetic polarity reversals.
c) Differential cooling rates of basaltic lava.
d) Sediment deposition influenced by ocean currents.

Question 6

Which of the following volcanic features is most likely to form in a continental rift zone?
a) Stratovolcano
b) Shield volcano
c) Caldera
d) Cinder cone

Question 7

Consider the following pairs:

1. Laki Fissure Eruption (1783) – Global temperature drop

2. Mount Pinatubo (1991) – Stratospheric sulfate aerosols

3. Deccan Traps – Flood basalt associated with mantle plumes

4. Yellowstone Caldera – Subduction zone volcanism

How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
a) Only one pair
b) Only two pairs
c) Only three pairs
d) All four pairs

Question 8

The “Plinian eruption” style is characterized by:

1. Collapse of eruption columns forming pyroclastic flows.

2. High-altitude volcanic ash plumes reaching the stratosphere.

3. Effusion of low-viscosity basaltic lava.

4. Phreatomagmatic explosions due to magma-water interaction.

Select the correct answer using the code below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 and 4 only
d) 1 and 4 only

Question 9

Which of the following statements about the Earth’s magnetosphere is/are correct?

1. The magnetotail is formed on the side opposite to the Sun due to solar wind stretching.

2. The plasmasphere is a region of cold, dense plasma within the inner magnetosphere.

3. Magnetic reconnection at the dayside magnetopause drives geomagnetic storms.

Select the correct answer using the code below:
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3

Question 10

The “Benioff Zone” is associated with:
a) Deep-focus earthquakes along subducting slabs.
b) Shallow volcanic tremors at mid-ocean ridges.
c) Intraplate volcanism in shield regions.
d) Transform fault seismicity.

Answer Key & Explanations

1. c) 1, 3, and 4 only

   • Explanation:

     • Statement 1: Kuiper Belt orbits are closely aligned with the ecliptic (correct).

     • Statement 2: Halley-type comets originate from the Oort Cloud, not the Kuiper Belt (incorrect).

     • Statement 3: New Horizons visited Arrokoth, a KBO, in 2019 (correct).

     • Statement 4: KBOs have more ammonia and methane vs. Oort Cloud’s CO/CO₂-rich comets (correct).

2. a) Reduced intensity of Earth’s magnetic field affecting satellite operations

   • Explanation: The South Atlantic Anomaly is a region where Earth’s magnetic field is weakest, exposing satellites to intense radiation.

3. b) 1, 2, and 4 only

   • Explanation: Substorms cause auroral expansion (1), GICs via induced currents (2), and particle acceleration (4). The equatorial electrojet (3) is unrelated.

4. a) Symmetrical magnetic anomalies parallel to mid-ocean ridges

   • Explanation: The hypothesis links magnetic reversals recorded in oceanic crust during spreading.

5. b) Seafloor spreading during magnetic polarity reversals

   • Explanation: Magnetic stripes reflect periods of normal/reversed polarity as new crust forms.

6. c) Caldera

   • Explanation: Continental rifts (e.g., East African Rift) often feature calderas due to magma chamber collapse.

7. c) Only three pairs

   • Explanation:

     • Pair 1: Laki’s 1783 eruption caused global cooling (correct).

     • Pair 2: Pinatubo’s aerosols cooled Earth (correct).

     • Pair 3: Deccan Traps linked to Réunion plume (correct).

     • Pair 4: Yellowstone is hotspot volcanism, not subduction (incorrect).

8. a) 1 and 2 only

   • Explanation: Plinian eruptions (e.g., Vesuvius) produce tall ash plumes (2) and collapsing columns (1). Basaltic effusion (3) and phreatomagmatic (4) describe other eruption styles.

9. d) 1, 2, and 3

   • Explanation:

     • Statement 1: Solar wind stretches the magnetosphere into a tail (correct).

     • Statement 2: Plasmasphere contains cold plasma from the ionosphere (correct).

     • Statement 3: Reconnection at the magnetopause initiates storms (correct).

10. a) Deep-focus earthquakes along subducting slabs

    • Explanation: Benioff zones mark Wadati-Benioff zones where quakes occur in descending slabs.