Question

Q. At perihelion, earth is the nearest to the sun receiving more solar insolation than at aphelion. However, this variation in the solar output does not have a large effect on daily weather changes on earth at a certain point. This can be attributed to

1. Solar winds
2. Meteor showers
3. Distribution of land and sea on earth
4. Milankovitch effect

Select the correct answer using the codes below.

• A.
  2 and 4 only
• B.
  3 only
• C.
  1 and 3 only
• D.
  1, 3 and 4 only

Answer 1

The correct option is B

3 only
Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: The solar wind is a stream of charged particles released from the upper atmosphere of the Sun. Planets with a weak or non-existent magnetosphere are subject to atmospheric stripping by the solar wind. It is not related to the distribution of weather.

Statement 2 is incorrect - Meteor showers do not affect day to day weather on earth.

Statement 3 is correct - Distribution of land and sea, heat transfer by way of sea and land breezes etc redistribute the increased insolation so that the effects are not felt largely.

Statement 4 is incorrect - Milankovitch effect refers to change in axis, shape and tilt of earth's spin. It is relevant to long term climate change, and not in this context which is about shorterm weather changes.