Question

In Rajasthan, the speed of ‘Loo’ may reach ________.
A) 100 km./hr.
B) 110 km./hr.
C) 120 km./hr.
D) 140 km./hr.

Answer 1

Hint:
Rajasthan is a state in India. Its capital is Jaipur. It has the Thar Desert. ‘Loo’ means wind. The speed of the wind is always measured using the anemometer.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
The summer wind which is strong, hot, dry, dusty and gusty is called the Loo. This blows over the western Indo – Gangetic Plain region of North India and Pakistan. This wind is strong especially in the months of May and June. It often leads to fatal heat strokes due to its very high temperatures. It also has a severe drying effect on the vegetation as it causes extremely low humidity and high temperatures. This leads to widespread browning in the areas which are affected during the months of May and June. In the desert regions of the northwestern Indian subcontinent (the Great Indian Desert, the desert areas of Southern Balochistan and the Cholistan Desert) the Loo mainly originates. As the plains of North India and Pakistan are very hot and extremely dry during this season, the water evaporates quite readily. This also leads to the drying out of many ponds and lakes. To create evaporation – based cooling systems, the extreme dryness of the air is also easily exploited. Any water reservoir that is used must be shielded from the Loo and the Sun, or else it could be rapidly depleted. The Loo blows with an average speed of 30 – 40 km per hour but may reach 140 km per hour.

Thus, option (D) is correct.

Note:
Many birds and animals yield to the Loo during the summer months, especially in the areas which are deforested where the Loo blows unbounded and the shelter is not available.