Question map
Not attempted Correct Incorrect ★ Bookmarked
Loading…
Q35 (NDA-I/2012) Geography › World Physical Geography › Atmospheric heat balance Answer Verified

The Earths surface receives maximum energy at 12 noon but the maximum temperature never occurs at 12 noon. State which of the following reasons are correct. 1. Transformation of solar energy into heat requires some time. 2. The loss of energy through long-wave radiations from the Earth’s surface exceeds the energy received from the Sun at 4:00 p.m. 3. Energy received by the Earth from solar radiations continues to exceed the energy lost by outgoing long-wave radiations from the Earth’s surface up to 4:00 p.m. Select the correct answer using the code given below : Code:

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The Earth's surface receives peak solar radiation at solar noon, yet the maximum temperature typically occurs between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. This phenomenon, known as the diurnal temperature lag, occurs because the transformation of solar energy into heat and the subsequent heating of the atmosphere via terrestrial radiation require time [1]. Statement 1 is correct as thermal inertia and the process of the Earth becoming a radiating body delay the peak temperature. Statement 3 is also correct; the temperature continues to rise as long as incoming solar radiation exceeds outgoing long-wave radiation [1]. This crossover point, where outgoing radiation begins to exceed incoming radiation, usually happens around 4:00 p.m., after which the surface begins to cool [1]. Statement 2 is incorrect because it describes the cooling phase rather than the reason for the preceding temperature peak.

Sources

  1. [1] FUNDAMENTALS OF PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Geography Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 8: Solar Radiation, Heat Balance and Temperature > Terrestrial Radiation > p. 69
How others answered
Each bar shows the % of students who chose that option. Green bar = correct answer, blue outline = your choice.
Community Performance
Out of everyone who attempted this question.
50%
got it right
✓ Thank you! We'll review this.

SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-I · 2025 · Q4 Relevance score: -0.88

Which of the following statements with reference to Surface inversion of temperature is/are correct ? 1. It causes instability in the lower layers of the atmosphere. 2. This inversion commonly lasts for a few hours until the Sun comes up. Select the answer using the code given below :

CDS-I · 2015 · Q6 Relevance score: -1.19

The Earth without rotational movement would result into 1. no sun-rise and sun-set. 2. no occurrence of day and night cycle. 3. only one season. Select the correct answer using the code given below

NDA-I · 2010 · Q84 Relevance score: -1.34

For a simple pendulum in simple harmonic motion, which of the following statements is/are correct? 1. The kinetic energy is maximum at the mean position. 2. The potential energy is maximum at the mean position. 3. Acceleration is maximum at the mean position. Select the correct answer using the code given below : Code:

IAS · 2004 · Q71 Relevance score: -1.60

Assertion (A) : The thickness of the atmosphere is maximum over the Equator. Reason (R) : High insolation and strong convection currents occur over the Equator.