GATE Overflow for GATE XE - Recent questions and answers in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 144

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:24:06 +0000

Which of the following is TRUE for the 'Summer solistice' in the Northern Hemisphere?

Longest night of the year
Equal duration of daylight and night
Longest duration of daylight of the year
Shortest duration of daylight of the year

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 145

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:23:19 +0000

Which of the following options are parts of the atmospheric boundary layer?

Benthic boundary layer, Internal boundary layer
Mixed layer, Entrainment layer
Mixed layer, Internal boundary layer
Mixed layer, Benthic boundary layer

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 147

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:22:30 +0000

Which of the following weather systems has the shortest duration of lifecycle?

Tropical Cyclones
Thunderstorms
Western Disturbance
Winter Monsoon

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 148

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:22:16 +0000

Which of the following statements based on the given figure is / are TRUE with respect to the upwelling process in the ocean?

Wind is northerly.
Wind is southerly.
Event occurs in the southern hemisphere.
Event occurs in the northern hemisphere.

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 155

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:18:53 +0000

From the given cases ( $\mathrm{P}, \mathrm{Q}, \mathrm{R}$ and $\mathrm{S}$), which represents the annual mean profile of dissolved oxygen in the Bay of Bengal?

$\mathrm{P}$
$\mathrm{Q}$
$\mathrm{R}$
$\mathrm{S}$

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 156

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:18:21 +0000

The given figure illustrates a subtropical gyre in the Southern Indian Ocean. Identify the currents in the correct sequence of $\mathrm{P}, \mathrm{Q}, \mathrm{R}$ and $\mathrm{S}$, respectively from the following options.

South Equatorial Current, West Australian Current, Madagascar Current and South Indian Ocean Current
South Equatorial Current, Madagascar Current, West Australian Current and South Indian Ocean Current
South Equatorial Current, Madagascar Current, South Indian Ocean Current and West Australian Current
South Equatorial Current, South Indian Ocean Current, Madagascar Current and West Australian Current

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 157

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:18:02 +0000

Which of the following is/are generally associated within a cyclonic eddy in the northern Indian Ocean?

Upwelling
Positive sea level anomaly
Negative sea level anomaly
Downwelling

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 159

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:16:57 +0000

Which of the following statements is/are correct for the Equatorial Indian Ocean during a positive Indian Ocean Dipole event?

Strong surface westerly winds
Weak surface westerly winds
Positive Sea Surface Temperature anomaly in the western region
Negative Sea Surface Temperature anomaly in the western region

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 160

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:16:39 +0000

The temperature of a dry air parcel is $20^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ at a height of $150$ $\mathrm{m}$ with atmospheric pressure of $1000$ $\mathrm{hPa}$. If the air parcel rises adiabatically to a height of $2$ $\mathrm{km}$ where atmospheric pressure is $800$ $\mathrm{hPa}$, then the temperature (in ${ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}$ ) of the air parcel at that height will be $\_\_\_\_$. (rounded off to three decimal places)

[Gas constant and specific heat capacity for the dry air are $287 \mathrm{~J} \mathrm{~kg}^{-1} \mathrm{~K}^{-1}$ and $1004 \mathrm{~J} \mathrm{~kg}^{-1} \mathrm{~K}^{-1}$, respectively.]

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 162

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:16:35 +0000

A steady westerly wind is blowing over the ocean surface at a latitude of $30^{\circ} \mathrm{N}$ and exerting a wind stress of $0.8 \mathrm{~N} \mathrm{~m}^{-2}$.

The magnitude of net volume transport (in $m^{2} s^{-1}$) per unit width is $\_\_\_\_$. (rounded off to three decimal places)

[Density of seawater is $1025 \mathrm{~kg} \mathrm{~m}^{-3}$, angular velocity of the Earth is $\left.7.29 \times 10^{-5} s^{-1}.\right]$

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 163

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:16:34 +0000

In a free atmosphere without friction, if the pressure increases by one kilo Pascal eastward across a distance of $200$ $\mathrm{km}$, the magnitude of geostrophic flow (in $m s^{-1}$ ) is $\_\_\_\_$. (rounded off to two decimal places)

[Density of air is $1.029 \mathrm{~kg} \mathrm{~m}^{-3}$ and the Coriolis parameter is $10^{-4} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$.]

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 170

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:14:35 +0000

Which of the following is/are greenhouse gas(es), as identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change $\text{(IPCC)}$?

Nitrogen dioxide ( $\mathrm{NO}_{2}$)
Nitrous oxide $\left(\mathrm{N}_{2} \mathrm{O}\right)$
Sulphur hexafluoride ($\mathrm{SF}_{6}$)
Carbon monoxide $\text{(CO)}$

GATE XE 2026 | Question: 177

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:12:24 +0000

Which one of the following defines the angle made by the line joining the centers of the sun and the earth with its projection on the equatorial plane?

Declination
Latitude
Azimuth angle
Zenith angle

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 154

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:27:07 +0000

During which of the following times of the day is the $2 \: \mathrm{m}$ air temperature usually the lowest at a tropical location?

At sunrise
At noon
At sunset
At midnight

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 155

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:27:05 +0000

At which of the following locations in the atmosphere is the anvil of a towering cumulonimbus cloud usually located?

Top of the surface layer
Top of the boundary layer
Tropopause
Stratopause

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 156

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:27:03 +0000

Which one of the following is the main reason why tropical cyclones rarely form over the Bay of Bengal during the summer monsoon season?

Strong vertical wind shear.
Weak low-level relative vorticity.
Dry mid-troposphere.
Stable atmosphere.

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 157

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:27:01 +0000

Which one of the following is the main cause of the land-sea temperature contrast that drives phenomena like sea breeze and the Indian summer monsoon?

Difference in the cloud cover between the land and the sea.
Difference in the albedo between the land and the sea.
Difference in the specific heat capacities between the land and the sea.
Difference in the surface roughness between the land and the sea.

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 158

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:58 +0000

The directions of the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre and the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre are $\_\_\_\_\_$ and $\_\_\_\_\_$, respectively.

clockwise; counter-clockwise
counter-clockwise; clockwise
clockwise; clockwise
counter-clockwise; counter-clockwise

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 159

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:56 +0000

The time period of the inertial oscillation at a location $\textsf{R}$ is $1.5$ times that of a particle moving at a speed of $0.5 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$ at a location $\mathrm{S}\left(87^{\circ} \mathrm{E}, 45^{\circ} \mathrm{S}\right)$. Which of the following is the latitude of location $\textsf{R}$? (Round off to the nearest integer)

$45 \: ^{\circ} \mathrm{N}$
$67 \: ^{\circ} \mathrm{S}$
$28 \: ^{\circ} \mathrm{N}$
$50 \: ^{\circ} \mathrm{S}$

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 160

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:54 +0000

Which of the following Period(s) correspond(s) to wind waves?

$5$ seconds
$20$ seconds
$6$ hours
$12$ hours

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 162

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:51 +0000

Acceleration due to Coriolis force of a water parcel at a location $\mathrm{P}\left(67^{\circ} \mathrm{E}, 20^{\circ} \mathrm{N}\right)$ moving with a speed of $0.35 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$ is $\_\_\_\_\_\_\_$ $\times 10^{-5} \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{~s}^{-2}$. (Round off to two decimal places)

[Assume the angular velocity of the Earth is $7.3 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$].

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 163

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:50 +0000

A rotating weather system has a tangential velocity of $100 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$, diameter of $1 \: \mathrm{ km}$ , and located at a latitude where the Coriolis parameter is $10^{-4} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$. Which one of the following statements is true about this weather system?

It is in geostrophic balance.
It is in gradient wind balance.
It is a high-pressure system.
It is in cyclostrophic balance.

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 164

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:47 +0000

The sea surface height concentric isolines ($\mathbf{L1}$ and $\mathbf{L2}$ in $\mathrm{cm}$ ) and the distance between them ( $\mathbf{d} \mathbf{x}$ in $\mathrm{km}$ ) for three different eddies at the same latitude are given in the figure below. (The figures are not to scale.)

Which one of the following orders is correct about the magnitudes of the geostrophic currents within the isolines?

$\textbf{(i) > (ii) > (iii)}$
$\textbf{(ii) >(iii) >(i)}$
$\textbf{(iii) >(i) >(ii)}$
$\textbf{(iii) > (ii) >(i)}$

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 165

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:45 +0000

The vertical (depth) profiles for three parameters $\mathbf{P1}$, $\mathbf{P2}$, and $\mathbf{P3}$ in the northern Indian Ocean are given in the figure below. The values along the $\text{x}$-axis are the normalized values of the parameters and $\text{y}$-axis is the depth ($\text{m}$).

Identify the parameters $\mathbf{P1}$, $\mathbf{P2}$, and $\mathbf{P3}$ from the options given below.

$\mathbf{P1}$: Dissolved Oxygen; $\mathbf{P2}$: Nitrate; $\mathbf{P3}$: Chlorophyll
$\mathbf{P1}$: Nitrate; $\mathbf{P2}$: Chlorophyll; $\mathbf{P3}$: Dissolved Oxygen
$\mathbf{P1}$: Dissolved Oxygen; $\mathbf{P2}$: Chlorophyll; $\mathbf{P3}$: Nitrate
$\mathbf{P1}$: Chlorophyll; $\mathbf{P2}$: Nitrate; $\mathbf{P3}$: Dissolved Oxygen

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 166

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:42 +0000

The zonal gradient of meridional current and the meridional gradient of zonal current is $-0.3 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$ and $0.3 \times 10^{-3} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$, respectively, at a location $\mathrm{P}\left(87^{\circ} \mathrm{E}\right.$, $\left.15^{\circ} \mathrm{N}\right)$. Which one of the following best explains the nature of the flow?

The flow is non-divergent in nature.
The flow is non-rotational in nature.
The flow is counter-clockwise in nature.
The flow is clockwise in nature.

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 167

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:40 +0000

The north-Atlantic deep-water is associated with $\_\_\_\_\_\_\_$

low temperature and low salinity
high temperature and high salinity
high temperature and low salinity
low temperature and high salinity

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 169

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:34 +0000

In the figures given below, $\mathbf{L}$ and $\mathbf{H}$ indicate low and high pressure centers, respectively; $\mathbf{PGF}$, $\mathbf{CoF}$ and $\mathbf{CeF}$ indicate Pressure Gradient Force, Coriolis Force and Centrifugal Force, respectively; $\mathbf{V}$ is Velocity.

[The arrows indicate only the directions but not the magnitudes of the forces and velocity.]

Which of the following is/are the correct representation(s) of the directions of various forces and velocity in the gradient wind balance in the northern hemisphere?

$textsf{(i)}$
$\textsf{(ii)}$
$\textsf{(iii)}$
$\textsf{(iv)}$

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 174

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:27 +0000

A column of air mass extending from surface to a height of $10 \:\mathrm{km}$ moving eastward along $30^{\circ} \: \mathrm{N}$ strikes a north-south oriented mountain range. While crossing the mountain range, the air mass acquires a relative vorticity of $-3.65 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$ at the top. If the air mass maintains the same latitude and conserves potential vorticity, the height of the mountain range is $\_\_\_\_\_\_\_$ km . (Round off to the nearest integer.)

[Assume the angular velocity of the Earth is $7.3 \times 10^{-5} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$ and initial relative vorticity is zero.]

GATE XE 2025 | Question: 175

Sun, 04 May 2025 15:26:26 +0000

The Sea Surface Temperature, Air Temperature and $10 \: m$ Wind Speed at the locations $\textsf{P}$ and $\textsf{Q}$ are given in the table below.

[Assume the density of air, specific heat capacity, and sensible heat transfer constant are the same at both locations.]

$$\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|} \hline \textbf{Location} & \textbf{Sea Surface} & \textbf{Air Temperature} & \textbf{Wind Speed} \\ & \textbf{temperature} \left({ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\right) & \left({ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}\right) & \textbf{at 10m} \: \left(\mathbf{m ~ s}^{\mathbf{- 1}}\right) \\ \hline \textsf{P} & 28 & 35 & 4 \\
\hline \textsf{Q} & 30 & 32 & 7 \\ \hline \end{array}$$

The sensible heat $\textsf{(SH)}$ flux at the locations $\textsf{P}$ and $\textsf{Q}$ are $\mathrm{SH}_{P}$ and $\mathrm{SH}_{\mathrm{Q}}$, respectively. The value of $\left(\frac{\mathrm{SH}_{\mathrm{P}}}{\mathrm{SH}_{\mathrm{Q}}}\right)$ is $\_\_\_\_\_\_\_$. (in integer)

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 144

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:49 +0000

A westerly wind is blowing in the Northern Hemisphere. What is the direction of net mass transport in the Ekman layer?

Southward
Northward
North-Eastward
South-Westward

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 145

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:48 +0000

Which one of the following feature is NOT necessary for the formation of Indian summer monsoon?

Land-sea temperature contrast
El Niño
Seasonal reversal of winds
Meridional pressure gradient

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 146

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:47 +0000

The work done by Coriolis force is

directly proportional to velocity
a function of latitude
zero
always positive except at the equator

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 148

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:46 +0000

Transfer of energy between ocean and atmosphere in the form of sensible heat flux is due to

difference in specific humidity between ocean and atmosphere
difference in temperature between upper surface of the ocean and lower part of the atmosphere
difference in density between upper surface of the ocean and lower part of the atmosphere
difference in partial pressure of $\mathrm{CO}_{2}$ between ocean and atmosphere

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 149

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:45 +0000

A value of outgoing long-wave radiation $\text{(OLR)}$ $<200 \mathrm{~W} \mathrm{~m}^{-2}$ over the tropical oceans indicates ___________

high pressure region
deep convection
high sea surface temperature
clear sky condition

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 150

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:45 +0000

Which of the following is a correct statement?

Tropics receive more incoming short-wave radiation than the outgoing long-wave radiation.
Polar regions do not emit any long-wave radiation.
Both tropics and polar regions receive and emit equal amounts of radiation.
Polar regions receive more short-wave radiation than tropics.

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 151

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:44 +0000

Upwelling region has __________.

low sea surface height
high sea surface height
decrease in primary production
low nutrients

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 152

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:44 +0000

Density of sea-water does not directly depend on __________.

temperature of sea water
salinity of sea water
pressure of sea water
vorticity of sea water

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 153

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:43 +0000

Which of the following is/are true about ocean circulation?

Wind driven circulation, with constant Coriolis force, can produce narrow and fast western boundary currents.
Wind driven circulation, with Coriolis force varying with latitude, can produce narrow and fast western boundary currents.
The eastern boundary currents of subtropical gyres are wide and slow.
Wind driven circulation leads to Ekman transport.

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 154

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:42 +0000

Svedrup's equation deals with:

curl of wind stress
pressure gradient force
variation of Coriolis force with latitude
meridional transport of sea water

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 155

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:42 +0000

pH of the water in the oceans is/are directly affected by:

water temperature
water salinity
total alkalinity
water pressure

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 157

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:41 +0000

Consider an atmospheric flow at $45^{\circ} \mathrm{N}$, which is parallel to latitude and isobars. Which of the following is/are true when there is no friction?

Flow is in gradient wind balance.
Acceleration of the flow is close to zero.
The above description depicts an extratropical cyclone.
A balance between Coriolis force and pressure gradient force.

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 156

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:41 +0000

Billow clouds indicate:

turbulence in the atmosphere
vertical shear of the wind
heavy precipitation
uniform winds

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 158

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:40 +0000

The given figure shows a schematic of dry, moist, and environmental lapse rates. Which of the following is/are correct statements?

The lapse rate of environment below $5$ km is $-15^{\circ} \mathrm{C} \mathrm{km}^{-1}$
The atmosphere is unstable above $5$ km
The chances of a deep convective cloud growth above $5$ km are less
The atmosphere is conditionally unstable below $5$ km

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 159

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:39 +0000

Balance of forces and different types of flows/weather phenomena in the northern hemisphere are given. Match the following:

Balance of forces	Flow type/weather phenomena
P. Balance between pressure gradient force, centrifugal force and Coriolis force in anticlockwise rotation	X. Geostrophic flow
Q. Balance between pressure gradient force and centrifugal force clockwise anticlockwise rotation	Y. Cyclones
R. Balance between pressure gradient force and Coriolis force in uniform flow	Z. Tornado

$\mathrm{P}-\mathrm{Z} ; \mathrm{Q}-\mathrm{X} ; \mathrm{R}-\mathrm{Y}$
$\mathrm{P}-\mathrm{X} ; \mathrm{Q}-\mathrm{Y} ; \mathrm{R}-\mathrm{Z}$
$\mathrm{P}-\mathrm{Y} ; \mathrm{Q}-\mathrm{Z} ; \mathrm{R}-\mathrm{X}$
$\mathrm{P}-\mathrm{Y} ; \mathrm{Q}-\mathrm{X} ; \mathrm{R}-\mathrm{Z}$

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 160

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:37 +0000

During summer monsoon season, water from Arabian Sea spreads over the southwestern Bay of Bengal. This leads to

formation of salt fingers
upwelling
western boundary current
downwelling

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 161

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:37 +0000

Net solar radiation of $1360 \mathrm{~W} \mathrm{~m}^{-2}$ is incident on the surface of a still lake having mixed layer depth of $20$ m. Find the change in temperature $\text{(in SI units)}$ of the mixed layer of the lake for a day length of $8$ hours. $\text{(Rounded off to 2 decimal places)}$
Assume that there is no variation in solar radiation in a day and all radiation incident on the surface is absorbed uniformly throughout the mixed layer $\text{(Density of lake water is $1025 \mathrm{~kg} \mathrm{~m}^{-3}$ and Specific heat capacity $\left(C_{p}\right)$ of lake water is $3850$ $\mathrm{J} \mathrm{kg}^{-1} \mathrm{~K}^{-1}$ )}$.

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 162

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:36 +0000

A homogeneous, incompressible, steady ocean of mixed layer depth of $20$ m has a velocity gradient $-5 \times 10^{-8} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$ and $-8.3 \times 10^{-8} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$ along zonal and meridional directions, respectively. The vertical mass flux $\text{(in $\mathrm{kg} \mathrm{s}^{-1}$ )}$ at the base of the mixed layer of $100 \mathrm{~km} \times 100 \mathrm{~km}$ area is __________ is $1025 \mathrm{~kg} \mathrm{~m}^{-3}$ ). $\text{(Rounded off to 1 decimal place)}$

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 163

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:35 +0000

Wind blows over the ocean surface at a speed of $10 \mathrm{~m} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$. Calculate the magnitude of wind stress, in Pa , using bulk formulation. $\text{(Drag coefficient is $1.4 \times 10^{-3}$ and density of air is $1.3 \mathrm{~kg} \mathrm{~m}^{-3}$ )}$ $\text{(Rounded off to 3 decimal places)}$

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 164

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:35 +0000

Two stations 'A' and 'B', present at a latitude of $30^{\circ} \mathrm{N}$ are separated by a distance of $10$ km . If the difference in sea surface height between these two stations is 1 m , what will be the magnitude of geostrophic current velocity in SI units? $\text{(Assume the angular velocity of earth is}$ $\left.10^{-4} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}\right)$ $\text{(Answer in integer)}$

GATE XE 2024 | Question: 165

Sun, 21 Jul 2024 16:40:34 +0000

A stationary air parcel centered on the equator is moved north-ward by conserving absolute vorticity. In the new location it has gained a relative vorticity of $-10^{-4} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$. The latitude of its new location is ____________ ${ }^{\circ} \mathrm{N}$. $\text{(Assume the angular velocity of earth is}$ $10^{-4} \mathrm{~s}^{-1}$ ). $\text{(Answer in integer)}$