UPSC Previous Year Question | Prelims GS | 2022

Consider the following statements: 1. High clouds primarily reflect solar radiation and cool the surface of the Earth. 2. Low clouds have a high absorption of infrared radiation emanating from the Earth's surface, and this results in a heating effect. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 1 only
  2. 2 only
  3. Both 1 and 2
  4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer

Correct Answer

Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

Both statements as framed are treated as incorrect per the official key: high clouds mainly trap outgoing infrared radiation causing warming (rather than simply reflecting and cooling), while low clouds primarily reflect incoming solar radiation causing net cooling — the reverse of what the statements claim.

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