The question asks about the primary way climate change impacts agriculture. We need to identify the most comprehensive and direct mechanism through which climate change affects farming practices and outcomes.
Correct Option: B) By changing agricultural inputs like water, sunlight, and pest patterns. This option accurately captures the multifaceted and fundamental ways climate change directly alters the environmental conditions essential for agriculture. Changes in temperature, precipitation (water availability), and the proliferation of pests and diseases are among the most significant and widespread impacts of climate change on farming systems globally.
The question asks which region is likely to benefit from a moderate warming of 1-3°C. This requires understanding the current climatic conditions of different regions and how a slight increase in temperature might impact them, particularly in terms of agricultural productivity and habitability.
C) Temperate regions — Moderate warming (1-3°C) could extend the growing season in temperate regions, allowing for increased agricultural productivity and potentially enabling the cultivation of new crop varieties. It might also reduce the severity of cold winters, leading to lower heating costs and fewer cold-related health issues. These benefits are often cited as potential short-term upsides of moderate warming in these specific zones, before more severe climate change impacts manifest.
UPSC - 2014
The question asks for the correct sequence of a food chain. A food chain illustrates the feeding relationships between different organisms in an ecosystem, showing how energy is transferred from one trophic level to the next. It typically starts with producers, followed by primary consumers, then secondary consumers, and so on.
A) Diatoms—Crustaceans—Herrings
This sequence correctly represents a marine food chain: Diatoms (producers) are eaten by Crustaceans (primary consumers), which are then eaten by Herrings (secondary consumers).
The question asks about the implications of the IPCC's Third Assessment Report (TAR) for the poorest countries. To answer this, one needs to recall the key findings and warnings issued in the TAR, particularly concerning vulnerable populations and regions.
C) They will face severe agricultural impacts — The IPCC's Third Assessment Report, like subsequent reports, emphasized that developing countries, particularly the poorest, would be most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Among these, severe impacts on agriculture were a primary concern due to their reliance on climate-sensitive farming practices and limited capacity to adapt to changing conditions, leading to food insecurity and economic hardship.
This question asks about the potential impacts of sea level rise on agriculture. We need to consider the direct and indirect consequences of rising sea levels on agricultural land and practices.
Correct Option: C) Flood low-lying lands and increase salinity
This option accurately describes two major negative impacts of sea level rise on agriculture: the physical inundation of arable land and the degradation of soil quality due to increased salt content, both of which are detrimental to crop production.
The question asks to identify the glacier that is retreating at a rate of approximately 28 meters per year. This requires specific knowledge about the retreat rates of major glaciers in India.
Correct Option: C) Gangotri
The Gangotri Glacier, a primary source of the Ganges River, has been extensively studied and is known to be retreating at an alarming rate due to climate change. Scientific observations and reports frequently cite its retreat rate as approximately 28 meters per year, or sometimes between 20-30 meters per year, over the last few decades.